1.Intervention of Signaling Pathways Related to Ulcerative Colitis with Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Review
Hao WANG ; Jiali DING ; Guangjun SUN ; Xiaoyu ZHANG ; Aizhen LIN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(7):331-340
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a common digestive disease characterized by recurrence and remission alternation,which seriously affects the life quality and physical and mental health of patients. The pathogenesis of UC is complex,and studies have shown that the occurrence and development of UC are closely related to the transduction of multiple signaling pathways. The current western medicine treatment has many problems,such as single action target,more adverse reactions,poor patient tolerance,and easy recurrence after stopping the medicine. Traditional Chinese medicine has the advantages such as multi-targets,multi-pathways, and fewer adverse reactions, elucidating that the action mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of UC is the focus of current research. Therefore, this paper conducted a systematic review on how traditional Chinese medicine exerts therapeutic effects by regulating the signaling pathways related to UC in recent years,and it was found that traditional Chinese medicine can regulate nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB),adenylate-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR),Janus tyrosine protein kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT),phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) /protein kinase B (Akt),NOD-like receptor thermoprotein structural domain-related protein 3 (NLRP3)/cysteine protease-1 (Caspase-1),nuclear respiratory factor 2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and several other pathways,thereby inhibiting oxidative stress and cellular pyroptosis,regulating the Tregs/Th17 cellular balance, promoting autophagic response and M2-type macrophage polarization,restoring the diversity and abundance of intestinal flora,promoting the repair of intestinal mucosal barrier function,and alleviating the inflammatory damage of UC colonic tissues. The holistic concept and evidence-based treatment of traditional Chinese medicine were combined with the modern molecular mechanism research of traditional Chinese medicine, and the traditional Chinese medicine combinations with different mechanisms, following regulation, were formulated into compound formulas or pairs of medicines according to the pattern of evidence. It is expected to achieve better therapeutic efficacy and to provide ideas and references for the modification of classic compound formulae of traditional Chinese medicine in UC treatment and clinical translation.
2.Mechanisms of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis Based on AMPK Signaling Pathway: A Review
Keqiu YAN ; Xiaoyu ZHANG ; Yifan CAI ; Wenjie XIAO ; Xinkun BAO ; Guangjun SUN ; Aizhen LIN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(7):341-351
Ulcerative colitis (UC), a chronic relapsing inflammatory bowel disease, involves multifaceted pathological mechanisms such as intestinal barrier dysfunction, immune dysregulation, and oxidative stress. Current therapeutic strategies remain limited in efficacy and safety. In recent years, the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway has emerged as a pivotal therapeutic target for UC due to its central role in energy metabolism, inflammatory regulation, and intestinal homeostasis. This article systematically reviewed the mechanisms by which traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prevented and treated UC through the regulation of the AMPK signaling pathway, with a focus on elucidating AMPK's multidimensional regulatory network in inflammatory signaling crosstalk, alleviating oxidative stress, restoring intestinal immune balance, repairing the intestinal barrier, and modulating gut microbiota. Leveraging its unique advantages of multi-target engagement and low toxicity, TCM demonstrates promising potential in UC treatment and has become a focal area of research. By systematically summarizing and synthesizing the existing literature on TCM-mediated AMPK pathway modulation in UC, this review aims to provide a theoretical foundation for advancing mechanistic research and clinical interventions in UC.
3.Traditional Chinese Medicine in Regulating Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress for Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis: A Review
Keqiu YAN ; Xiaoyu ZHANG ; Guangjun SUN ; Aizhen LIN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(17):285-294
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic and relapsing inflammatory bowel disease that primarily affects the mucosal layer of the rectum and colon. Its pathogenesis is complex and remains incompletely understood. Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) plays a critical role in cellular responses to external stress and the maintenance of homeostasis, and its abnormal activation is closely associated with the development of various inflammatory diseases, particularly in the pathological process of UC. ERS maintains cellular homeostasis by activating the unfolded protein response (UPR). However, when ERS is prolonged or excessive, UPR fails to alleviate the stress, leading to epithelial cell death and aggravating the progression of UC. Modulating ERS may serve as a key target for the prevention and treatment of UC, and it is one of the current research hotspots. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has shown significant efficacy in regulating ERS, offering unique therapeutic advantages through multi-target and multi-pathway mechanisms. Recent studies have confirmed that TCM can alleviate ERS, inhibit apoptosis, regulate autophagy, reduce inflammatory responses, and maintain intestinal barrier function to prevent and treat UC. This review summarized the relationship between ERS and UC and discussed the intervention of TCM in regulating ERS for the treatment of UC, aiming to provide new insights and approaches for the treatment of UC with TCM.
4.Traditional Chinese Medicine in Regulating Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress for Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis: A Review
Keqiu YAN ; Xiaoyu ZHANG ; Guangjun SUN ; Aizhen LIN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(17):285-294
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic and relapsing inflammatory bowel disease that primarily affects the mucosal layer of the rectum and colon. Its pathogenesis is complex and remains incompletely understood. Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) plays a critical role in cellular responses to external stress and the maintenance of homeostasis, and its abnormal activation is closely associated with the development of various inflammatory diseases, particularly in the pathological process of UC. ERS maintains cellular homeostasis by activating the unfolded protein response (UPR). However, when ERS is prolonged or excessive, UPR fails to alleviate the stress, leading to epithelial cell death and aggravating the progression of UC. Modulating ERS may serve as a key target for the prevention and treatment of UC, and it is one of the current research hotspots. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has shown significant efficacy in regulating ERS, offering unique therapeutic advantages through multi-target and multi-pathway mechanisms. Recent studies have confirmed that TCM can alleviate ERS, inhibit apoptosis, regulate autophagy, reduce inflammatory responses, and maintain intestinal barrier function to prevent and treat UC. This review summarized the relationship between ERS and UC and discussed the intervention of TCM in regulating ERS for the treatment of UC, aiming to provide new insights and approaches for the treatment of UC with TCM.
5.Clinical Application and Pharmacological Mechanism of Sishenwan in Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis: A Review
Keqiu YAN ; Xiaoyu ZHANG ; Sifeng JIA ; Yuyu DUAN ; Zixing QIAN ; Yifan CAI ; Junyi SHEN ; Wenjie XIAO ; Xinkun BAO ; Guangjun SUN ; Aizhen LIN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(21):261-270
Ulcerative colitis (UC), a chronic, non-specific inflammatory bowel disease with typical symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and bloody stools, demonstrates a high relapse rate and difficulty in curing. Sishenwan, first recorded in Internal Medicine Abstract (Nei Ke Zhai Yao), are a classic prescription for treating diarrhea caused by deficiency of the spleen and kidney Yang. The core therapeutic principle of Sishenwan is warming and tonifying the spleen and kidney, and astringing the intestine and stopping diarrhea. In recent years, Sishenwan have demonstrated distinct advantages in the clinical treatment of UC. The pathogenesis of UC involves multiple factors, including immune dysregulation and gut microbiota imbalance. Although Western medicine is effective in the short term, its side effects, high relapse rate, and resistance associated with long-term use pose substantial challenges. Sishenwan have shown excellent clinical outcomes in the treatment of UC due to deficiency of the spleen and kidney Yang. Modern clinical studies indicate that Sishenwan, used alone or in combination with Western medicine or other Chinese medicine compound prescriptions, significantly improve the clinical efficacy in treating UC due to deficiency of the spleen and kidney Yang. Sishenwan effectively alleviate core symptoms such as mucus, pus, and blood in stools, and persistent abdominal pain, reduce Mayo scores and the relapse rate, and improve patients' quality of life. Research on the material basis reveals that Sishenwan contain multiple active ingredients such as psoralen, isopsoralen, and evodiamine. Mechanism studies indicate that Sishenwan inhibit the inflammatory cascade reactions by regulating the signal network through multiple targets. Sishenwan regulate cellular immunity and restore intestinal immune homeostasis. At the microecological level, Sishenwan promote the intestinal barrier repair through the "microbiota-metabolism-immunity" axis. The current research still needs to be deepened in aspects such as the mining of specific biomarkers for syndromes and the exploration of the collaborative mechanism of traditional Chinese and Western medicine. In the future, a full-chain system covering syndrome differentiation, targeting, and monitoring needs to be constructed for promoting the paradigm transformation of Sishenwan into precision drugs. This review systematically explains the treatment mechanism of Sishenwan regarding the combination of disease and syndrome and its multi-target regulatory characteristics, providing a theoretical basis and transformation direction for the treatment of UC with integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine.
6.Clinical Application and Pharmacological Mechanism of Sishenwan in Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis: A Review
Keqiu YAN ; Xiaoyu ZHANG ; Sifeng JIA ; Yuyu DUAN ; Zixing QIAN ; Yifan CAI ; Junyi SHEN ; Wenjie XIAO ; Xinkun BAO ; Guangjun SUN ; Aizhen LIN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(21):261-270
Ulcerative colitis (UC), a chronic, non-specific inflammatory bowel disease with typical symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and bloody stools, demonstrates a high relapse rate and difficulty in curing. Sishenwan, first recorded in Internal Medicine Abstract (Nei Ke Zhai Yao), are a classic prescription for treating diarrhea caused by deficiency of the spleen and kidney Yang. The core therapeutic principle of Sishenwan is warming and tonifying the spleen and kidney, and astringing the intestine and stopping diarrhea. In recent years, Sishenwan have demonstrated distinct advantages in the clinical treatment of UC. The pathogenesis of UC involves multiple factors, including immune dysregulation and gut microbiota imbalance. Although Western medicine is effective in the short term, its side effects, high relapse rate, and resistance associated with long-term use pose substantial challenges. Sishenwan have shown excellent clinical outcomes in the treatment of UC due to deficiency of the spleen and kidney Yang. Modern clinical studies indicate that Sishenwan, used alone or in combination with Western medicine or other Chinese medicine compound prescriptions, significantly improve the clinical efficacy in treating UC due to deficiency of the spleen and kidney Yang. Sishenwan effectively alleviate core symptoms such as mucus, pus, and blood in stools, and persistent abdominal pain, reduce Mayo scores and the relapse rate, and improve patients' quality of life. Research on the material basis reveals that Sishenwan contain multiple active ingredients such as psoralen, isopsoralen, and evodiamine. Mechanism studies indicate that Sishenwan inhibit the inflammatory cascade reactions by regulating the signal network through multiple targets. Sishenwan regulate cellular immunity and restore intestinal immune homeostasis. At the microecological level, Sishenwan promote the intestinal barrier repair through the "microbiota-metabolism-immunity" axis. The current research still needs to be deepened in aspects such as the mining of specific biomarkers for syndromes and the exploration of the collaborative mechanism of traditional Chinese and Western medicine. In the future, a full-chain system covering syndrome differentiation, targeting, and monitoring needs to be constructed for promoting the paradigm transformation of Sishenwan into precision drugs. This review systematically explains the treatment mechanism of Sishenwan regarding the combination of disease and syndrome and its multi-target regulatory characteristics, providing a theoretical basis and transformation direction for the treatment of UC with integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine.
7.Suoquan Runchang Prescription Improves Senile Constipation in Mice by Promoting Expressions of SCF and c-Kit
Guangjun SUN ; Xiaoyu ZHANG ; Xinkun BAO ; Wenjie XIAO ; Aizhen LIN
Journal of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;42(4):956-961
Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of Suoquan Runchang Prescription for senile mice with constipation and its mechanism of action.Methods Senile Kunming mice were randomly divided into constipation group,Suoquan Runchang Prescription group,ISCK03[stem cell factor(SCF),receptor tyrosine kinase(c-Kit)signaling pathway inhibitor]group,Suoquan Runchang Prescription+ISCK03 group,and normal group,with 12 mice in each group.Except for the normal group,a constipation model was constructed by gavage of 150 mg/kg Compound Diphenoxylate Suspension in all groups of senile Kunming mice.After successful modeling,each group was treated for two weeks.At the end of the intervention,the fecal particles count and fecal water content were detected,the serum levels of interleukin(IL)-1β,IL-6,motilin,gastrin,5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT),and vasoactive intestinal peptide(VIP)were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA),and the changes in gastric emptying rate and small intestine propulsion rate were determined,the pathologic changes of colonic tissues were detected by hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining,and protein expressions of SCF and c-Kit in the colonic tissues was detected by Western Blot.Results Compared with the normal group,the disrupted cellular structure,thinner muscle layer,damaged mucosal epithelium were seen in the constipation group,and the fecal particle count,fecal water content,serum motilin,gastrin and 5-HT levels,gastric emptying rate,small intestine propulsion rate,the protein expression levels of SCF and c-Kit in colonic tissues were decreased,and the serum IL-1 β,IL-6 and VIP levels were increased,the differences being statistically significant(P<0.05).Compared with the constipation group,the colonic tissues damage were improved in Suoquan Runchang Prescription group,the fecal particle count,fecal water content,serum motilin,gastrin and 5-HT levels,gastric emptying rate,small intestine propulsion rate,protein expression levels of SCF and c-Kit in colonic tissues were elevated,the serum IL-1β,IL-6 and VIP levels were decreased,the difference being statistically significant(P<0.05).The indexes mentioned above in mice of ISCK03 group versus to the results of Suoquan Runchang Prescription group(P<0.05).Compared with Suoquan Runchang Prescription group,the colonic tissues damage showed aggravated in Suoquan Runchang Prescription+ISCK03 group,and the fecal particle count,fecal water content,serum motilin,gastrin and 5-HT levels,gastric emptying rate,small intestine propulsion rate,protein expression levels of SCF and c-Kit in colonic tissues were decreased,the serum IL-1β,IL-6 and VIP levels were increased,the difference being statistically significant(P<0.05).Conclusion Suoquan Runchang Prescription can effectively improve constipation in senile mice,and its therapeutic effect maybe related to the up-regulation of SCF,c-Kit expression,thus promoting intestinal peristalsis.
8.Visualized analysis on trend and hot spot of research on multimorbidity using knowledge map
Mengruo GUO ; Hua JIN ; Qiangqiang FU ; Aizhen GUO ; Hanzhi ZHANG ; Jianwei SHI ; Dehua YU
Chinese Journal of General Practitioners 2023;22(8):783-789
Objective:To analyze the trend and hot spots of research on multimorbidity.Methods:The Chinese and English literature in databases of CNKI, Wanfang data and Web of science from inception to July 2022 were retrieved using "multimorbidity" and "multiple chronic conditions" as the search terms. The scientific knowledge mapping software VOSviewer was used to analyze the co-occurrence network of scientific knowledge from the aspects of countries, Chinese and English keywords,burst terms and existing research results; and the status quo and hot trends of studies on multimorbidity at home and abroad were summarized and compared.Results:A total of 251 Chinese publications and 6 351 English publications were included. From the perspective of research trends, the overall trend of domestic and international publications showed a fluctuating upward trend in general, but the pace of development was different. The cooperation network represented by the United States, England, Canada, China, Japan, Australia and other countries was the largest regional cooperation network. Germany, the Netherlands, the United States, Australia and other countries were the first regions to carry out studies on multimorbidity. Studies on multimorbidity in China mainly focused on three topics: diagnosis, treatment and care of multimorbidity, common disease management of multimorbidity, and research methods of multimorbidity. The English literature mainly focused on the clustering of three topics: multi-disease co-diagnosis and care research, multi-disease co-management model research, and multimorbidity related research. The analysis of burst terms indicated the research focus and trend change in different time periods. The results of the outburst word analysis showed that the recent research hotspots of multimorbidity were public health, machine learning, geriatric medicine and so on.Conclusions:The number of studies on the multimorbidity is rapidly increasing both domestically and internationally, and related research in China is still in the early stages of development. In terms of research hotspots, the research of multimorbidity has gradually shifted from phenomenon description to topics such as medical services and research methods of multimorbidity.
9.Targeted bile acids metabolomics in cholesterol gallbladder polyps and gallstones:From analytical method development towards application to clinical samples
Jiaojiao WEI ; Tao CHEN ; Yamin LIU ; Shuai SUN ; Zhiqing YUAN ; Yixin ZHANG ; Aizhen XIONG ; Linnan LI ; Zhengtao WANG ; Li YANG
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2023;13(9):1080-1087
Bile acids(BAs)are synthesized by the liver from cholesterol through several complementary pathways and aberrant cholesterol metabolism plays pivotal roles in the pathogeneses of cholesterol gallbladder polyps(CGP)and cholesterol gallstones(CGS).To date,there is neither systematic study on BAs profile of CGP or CGS,nor the relationship between them.To explore the metabolomics profile of plasma BAs in healthy volunteers,CGP and CGS patients,an ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-MS/MS)method was developed and validated for simultaneous determination of 42 free and conjugated BAs in human plasma.The developed method was sensitive and reproducible to be applied for the quantification of BAs in the investigation of plasma samples.The results show that,compared to healthy volunteers,CGP and CGS were both characterized by the significant decrease in plasma BAs pool size,furthermore CGP and CGS shared aberrant BAs metabolic characteristics.Cheno-deoxycholic acid,glycochenodeoxycholic acid,λ-muricholic acid,deoxycholic acid,and 7-ketolithocholic acid were shared potential markers of these two cholesterol gallbladder diseases.Subsequent analysis showed that clinical characteristics including cysteine,ornithine and body mass index might be closely related to metabolisms of certain BA modules.This work provides metabolomic information for the study of gallbladder diseases and analytical methodologies for clinical target analysis and efficacy evaluation related to BAs in medical institutions.
10.Effects of different dialysis modalities on long-term prognosis after parathyroidectomy in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism
Xiaoyi LIU ; Zhe ZHANG ; Chao XIE ; Aizhen HOU ; Peiyi YE ; Yaozhong KONG
Chinese Journal of Nephrology 2022;38(5):406-412
Objective:To compare the survival rate of secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) patients with different dialysis modalities after parathyroidectomy (PTX), and analyze the influencing factors of survival prognosis.Methods:Clinical data of dialysis patients diagnosed with SHPT and treated with PTX in the First People′s Hospital of Foshan from April 2014 to May 2019 were retrospectively collected and analyzed. The patients were divided into hemodialysis (HD) group and peritoneal dialysis (PD) group according to preoperative dialysis modalities, and the differences in baseline clinical data and cardiac ultrasound results were compared between the two groups. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to compare the difference in cumulative survival rate between the two groups. Multivariate Cox regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors of all-cause death. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve) was used to predict the risk of all-cause death.Results:A total of 99 patients were enrolled in this study, and 94 patients completed follow-up, including 23 patients who died. Compared with PD group ( n=45), HD group ( n=54) had higher dialysis age, blood pressure, intact parathyroid hormone, alkaline phosphatase, total heart valve calcification rate, mitral valve calcification proportion, interventricular septal thickness (IVST) and left ventricular mass index (all P<0.05). The median follow-up time was 46.00(32.75, 60.25) months. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that there was no significant difference in cumulative survival rate between HD group and PD group (Log-rank test χ2=0.414, P=0.520). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that increasing age ( HR=1.066, 95% CI 1.017-1.118, P=0.008), systolic blood pressure>140 mmHg ( HR=2.601, 95% CI 1.002-6.752, P=0.049) and increasing IVST ( HR=1.269, 95% CI 1.036-1.554, P=0.021) were independent influencing factors for all-cause death in dialysis patients after PTX. ROC curve analysis results showed that the cut-off values of age, dialysis age and IVST for predicting all-cause death after PTX were 51.5 years old ( AUC=0.673, 95% CI 0.545-0.802, P=0.013) and 75.0 months ( AUC=0.654, 95% CI 0.528-0.780, P=0.027) and 13.5 mm ( AUC=0.680, 95% CI 0.557-0.803, P=0.010) respectively. The area under the ROC curve for age, dialysis age, IVST, left ventricular hypertrophy in combination with systolic blood pressure>140 mmHg in the prediction of all-cause death after PTX was 0.776(95% CI 0.677-0.875, P<0.001). Conclusions:There is no significant difference in cumulative survival rate between HD and PD patients with SHPT after PTX. Increasing age, systolic blood pressure>140 mmHg and increasing IVST are independent risk factors for all-cause death in dialysis patients with SHPT after PTX.

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