1.ZHANG Lei's Experience in the Treatment of Sjögren Syndrome from the Perspective of "Same Form and Disease of Dryness and Dampness"
Yanan LI ; Erping XU ; Rui ZHANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(1):12-16
This paper summarized professor ZHANG Lei's experience in the treatment of sjögren syndrome (SS) from the perspective of "same form and disease of dryness and dampness". It is believed that both dryness and dampness are involved as the pathological factors of SS. The important pathogenesis is that dryness and dampness are of the same form and coexist in the disease, that is, dryness and dampness can transform into each other with the same form or be concurrent in the disease. The same form of dryness and dampness includes the dryness syndrome caused by dampness and the dampness syndrome caused by dryness, which can be treated with modified Wuling Powder (五苓散) and modified Ejiao Jizihuang Decoction (阿胶鸡子黄汤), respectively. The disease of both dryness and dampness includes lung dryness with spleen dampness, stomach dryness with spleen dampness, liver dryness with spleen dampness, and kidney dryness with spleen dampness syndrome, which can be treated with modified Ganlu Beverage and Weijing Decoction(甘露饮合苇茎汤), self-made Jianpi Yangyin Formula (健脾养阴方) with modifications, self-made Guqing Decoction and Jupi Zhishu Pill (谷青汤合橘皮枳术丸) with modifications, and Shenqi Pill and Linggui Zhugan Decoction (肾气丸合苓桂术甘汤) with modifications, respectively.
2.Pharmacological Effects and Mechanisms of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and Its Active Components in Treating Depression: A Review
Ziyang HUANG ; Zhiyi WANG ; Zibo LI ; Erping XU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(4):288-296
Depression is a common mental disorder in clinical practice, and it falls under the category of depression syndrome in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). In TCM, Qi depression is considered as the root cause of all depression syndromes. Qi depression can lead to blood stasis, which is a key cause of diseases due to depression syndrome. Therefore, treating stasis is an important therapeutic approach for depression syndrome. Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, a representative herbal medicine for activating blood and removing stasis, is effective in activating blood, removing stasis, dredging meridians, and alleviating pain. Currently, it is primarily used in clinical practice to treat cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, such as neurasthenia, coronary heart disease, insomnia, and palpitations. The active components of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma are complex and exhibit a variety of pharmacological effects. These components include water-soluble salvianolic acids and lipid-soluble tanshinones. Modern pharmacological studies have proven that Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and its active components possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-fibrosis, and neuroprotective properties. In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to the pharmacological effects and mechanisms of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and its active components in treating depression. This paper systematically reviews the antidepressant mechanisms of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and its main active components from the regulation of monoamine neurotransmitters, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, neurotrophic factors, and neuroinflammation. In addition, this paper summarizes the clinical applications of the prescriptions containing Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma in the treatment of depression, providing new insights for further research on the pharmacological mechanisms of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma in treating depression.
3.Mechanism of Action of Coptidis Rhizoma and Ophiopogonis Radix in Delaying Diabetic Nephropathy Based on EGFR/PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway
Shaoyu LI ; Man GONG ; Qiufang LI ; Liping DAI ; Guiqun WANG ; Qiuchen YANG ; Qiongqiong ZHANG ; Erping XU ; Yalin LIU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(20):22-29
ObjectiveTo observe the effect of Coptidis Rhizoma and Ophiopogonis Radix on renal tissue injury and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway in rats with diabetic nephropathy (DN) and explore its possible mechanism of delaying DN. MethodThirty-six male Wistar rats were randomly divided into a normal group (6 rats) and a model group (30 rats). The model group was fed with a high-fat and high-sugar diet combined with streptozotocin (STZ) to establish a rat model of type 2 diabetes. After the successful preparation of the model, the rats were randomly divided into the model group, low, medium, and high dose groups of Coptidis Rhizoma and Ophiopogonis Radix (100, 200, 400 mg·kg-1), and metformin group (200 mg·kg-1). After administration, the levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG), 24 h urine protein (24 h-UTP), creatinine (SCr), urea nitrogen (BUN), and uric acid (UA) were detected. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and Masson staining were used to observe the pathological changes of renal tissue in rats. Western blot and Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) were used to detect the related protein expression of EGFR, PI3K, and Akt and their mRNA expression levels in the renal tissue of rats in each group. ResultsCompared with the normal group, the levels of FBG, SCr, BUN, UA, 24 h-UTP, and kidney index in the model group were significantly increased (P<0.01), most renal tubular epithelial cells were necrotic, and the content of collagen in glomeruli was significantly increased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the above indexes of rats in each administration group were improved to varying degrees. The FBG, SCr, BUN, UA, 24 h-UTP, and kidney index of rats in each dose group and metformin group were significantly decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05). The necrosis degree of renal tubular epithelial cells was reduced, and the fibrosis area was decreased (P<0.01). There related protein and mRNA expressions of EGFR, PI3K, and Akt were significantly increased (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionCoptidis Rhizoma and Ophiopogonis Radix can alleviate renal tissue injury in rats with DN, and their mechanism may be related to the regulation of the EGFR/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.
4.Wenxiao Powder Alleviates Depression by Promoting Neurogenesis via BDNF/TrkB/ERK/CREB Signaling Pathway
Duo ZHANG ; Xiuhui GUO ; Yucheng LI ; Yunli GAO ; Ming BAI ; Xiangli YAN ; Erping XU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(8):100-108
ObjectiveTo decipher the mechanism of Wenxiao powder in alleviating corticosterone-induced depression-like behaviors in mice. MethodMale ICR mice were randomized into normal, model, paroxetine (20 mg·kg-1), and low- and high-dose (3.27, 6.54 g·kg-1, respectively) Wenxiao powder groups. The mice in normal and model groups received equal volume of saline. Other groups except the normal group were injected with corticosterone subcutaneously 0.5 h after gavage to induce depression. Mice were tested for depression-like behaviors after drug administration. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to measure the corticosterone content in the serum. Nissl staining was performed to observe the damage of hippocampal neurons. Immunofluorescence staining was employed to observe the expression of double cortin (DCX) in the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus. Western blot was employed to determine the expression of proteins in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)/tyrosine kinase receptor B (TrkB)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)/cAMP-response element-binding protein (CREB) pathway in the hippocampus. ResultCompared with the normal group, the model group showed decreased sucrose preference rate, increased immobility time in the tail suspension test (P<0.01), and reduced residence time in the central area of the open field and the total movement distance (P<0.05, P<0.01). In addition, the modeling elevated the corticosterone level in the serum (P<0.01), decreased the volume and intensified the nuclear staining of hippocampal neurons in the DG area, reduced the expression of DCX in the DG area, and down-regulated the protein levels of BDNF, phosphorylated (p)-TrkB, p-ERK, and p-CREB in the hippocampus (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, low-dose Wenxiao powder improved the mouse behavivors in the sucrose preference, open field, and tail suspension tests (P<0.05, P<0.01), and high-dose Wenxiao powder improved the behaviors in the sucrose preference and open field tests (P<0.05, P<0.01). In addition, Wenxiao powder lowered the serum corticosterone level (P<0.01) and recovered the structure and morphology of neurons with obvious nuclei and presence of Nissl bodies in the DG area of the hippocampus. Moreover, Wenxiao powder at both doses promoted the expression of DCX in the DG area, and high-dose Wenxiao powder up-regulated the protein levels of BDNF, p-TrkB, p-ERK, and p-CREB in the hippocampus (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionWenxiao powder can alleviate corticosterone-induced depression-like behaviors and promote neurogenesis in mice possibly by activating the BDNF/TrkB/ERK/CREB signaling pathway.
5.Identification of Chemical Components and Components Absorbed into Blood of Sishen Pills
Qiuchen YANG ; Qiongqiong ZHANG ; Fang WANG ; Erping XU ; Liping DAI ; Ying CUI ; Lingling LI ; Yan-Ing ZHANG ; Yalin LIU
Journal of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;40(11):1234-1249
OBJECTIVE To identify and classify the chemical components and components absorbed into blood of Sishen Pills u-sing ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometry.METHODS SD rats were divided into blank group and drug administration group.The rats in drug administration group were given water extract of Sishen Pills formula intragastrically,and blank and drug-containing plasma were collected respectively.A Hypersil GOLD VANQUISH column(2.1 mm×100 mm,1.9 μm)was used,with 0.1%formic acid water acetonitrile as the mobile phase,gradient elution,volume flow rate of 0.3 mL·min-1,and column temperature of 35℃.Electrospray ion source(ESI)with positive and negative ion scanning mode was used for chromatographic separation and mass spectrometry data acquisition.The chemical components of Sishen Pills were identi-fied by comparing the exact molecular mass,fragment ion information and relative retention time with the map of reference substance,matching with the self-established database and combining with literature reports.On this basis,the components absorbed into blood of Sishen Pills were analyzed by comparing the blank plasma and drug-containing plasma.RESULTS A total of 181 chemical compo-nents were identified from Sishen Pills,mainly including flavonoids,alkaloids,lignans and other components.A total of 49 prototype blood components were identified from the plasma samples,mainly including flavonoids,alkaloids and other components.CONCLU-SION A variety of chemical components in Sishen Pills and drug-containing plasma are comprehensively,accurately and quickly i-dentified,and all of them are assigned to the various medicinal materials in the prescription.This study provides reference for the qual-ity control,basic research on medicinal effect materials and clinical application of Sishen Pills.
6.Progress in role of bile acid metabolism in depression
Hui LIU ; Baoying WANG ; Erping XU ; Ming BAI ; Jiduo SHEN ; Yucheng LI
Chinese Journal of Pathophysiology 2024;40(7):1351-1355
Bile acids not only play an important physiological role in regulating lipid metabolism,but also par-ticipate in the regulation of central nervous system.Numerous studies indicated that abnormal bile acid metabolism is closely related to depression,but the exact mechanism remains unclear.This study summarized the relationship between bile acid metabolism and depression and aimed to provide a new perspective for the study and treatment of depression.
7.Protective Effect of Ethanolic Extract of Hemsleya chinensis on HCl/Ethanol-induced Acute Gastric Ulcer in Rats Based on p38 MAPK/NF-κB Signaling Pathway
Yang ZHANG ; Hui GUO ; Feihe LIAN ; Xi XIANG ; Qingxia LI ; Xiaoqian LIU ; Zhimin WANG ; Liping DAI ; Erping XU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2023;29(2):37-44
ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of protective effect of ethanol extracts of Hemsleya chinensis (HC-EE) on hydrochloric acid/ethanol (HCl/EtOH)-induced acute gastric ulcer in rats. MethodLipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 cells were used to evaluate inhibitory effect of HC-EE on the production of inflammatory mediators in vitro. A rat acute gastric ulcer model induced by HCl/EtOH (60% ethanol in 150 mmol·L-1 HCl) was used to evaluate protective effect of HC-EE on acute gastric ulcer. Rats were divided into five groups, including normal group, model group, HC-EE low dose (HC-EE 30, 30 mg·kg-1) group, HC-EE high dose (HC-EE 60, 60 mg·kg-1) group and ranitidine (35 mg·kg-1) group. For model and drug-treated groups, vehicle solvent or drugs were orally administered twice daily for 7 consecutive days before the rats were subjected to HCl/EtOH to induce acute gastric ulcer. After being anesthetized, ulcer surface of each rat was obtained and recorded using electronic imaging technology, and the ulcer inhibition rate was calculated by ImageJ 1.8.0. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining were used to observe the pathological histological changes in rats. Content of nitric oxide (NO) in cell culture medium was measured by the Griess method. The levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-6, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in rat serum (or cell culture medium) were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The protein expressions of phosphorylation (p)-p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK)/p38 MAPK and p-nuclear transcription factor-κB (NF-κB) p65/NF-κB p65 in rat gastric tissue were detected by Western blot. ResultIn vitro assay showed HC-EE could significantly down-regulate the expressions of NO, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and VCAM-1 in LPS-induced cells (P<0.05, P<0.01). In vivo experimental results showed that, compared with the normal group, gastric tissue of the model group was severely damaged, and the area of gastric ulcer was significantly enlarged, levels of TNF-α, IL-6 were significantly increased (P<0.01), and the level of PGE2 was significantly decreased (P<0.01), the phosphorylation levels of of p38 MAPK, NF-κB p65 in gastric tissue were significantly increased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, HC-EE dose-dependently improved HCl/EtOH-induced gastric tissue injury and inflammatory cell infiltration, and it could increase ulcer inhibition rate, significantly decreased the release of TNF-α and IL-6 (P<0.01), HC-EE 60 group could increase the content of PGE2 (P<0.05), and significantly inhibit the phosphorylation levels of p38 MAPK and NF-κB p65 (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionHC-EE can exert protective effect on HCl/EtOH-induced acute gastric ulcer in rats, and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of expression of inflammatory mediators mediated by p38 MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway.
8.Countermeasure analysis on the education of large medical imaging equipment metrology for the major of Biomedical Engineering
Zedong YAN ; Wei GUO ; Juan LIU ; Yuanzhe LI ; Xiaoyu MA ; Erping LUO ; Chi TANG
Chinese Journal of Medical Education Research 2023;22(5):689-693
Based on the analysis of current situation of the metrological education of large medical imaging equipment in colleges and universities at home, the advantages of major of Biomedical Engineering (BME) and the internal relation with the requirement of personnel training of metrology were systematically investigated. The necessity of carrying out education of large medical imaging equipment metrology for BME students in colleges and universities was elucidated. The specific thoughts and countermeasures were also proposed from curriculum establishment, teaching design, textbook compilation, conditional construction and teaching staff, respectively. The study is hopeful to provide guidance and help for the education of the large medical imaging equipment metrology in colleges and universities.
9.Gardeniae Fructus and Its Prescriptions in Treatment of Depression: A Review
Lei TIAN ; Yucheng LI ; Ming BAI ; Baoying WANG ; Erping XU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2023;29(14):239-247
Depression is a mental disorder characterized by persistent low mood and belongs to the category of "stagnation syndrome" in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), with the characteristics of high prevalence, high disability rate, high suicide rate, and high recurrence rate. The pathogenesis of depression is extremely complex and involves factors such as genetics, psychology, and social environment. Currently, clinical antidepressant drugs such as tricyclic and tetracyclic antidepressants, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, have slow onset of action and significant adverse effects with long-term application. Furthermore, clinical statistics show that about one-third of patients do not respond to these types of medications. Enhancing the effectiveness of depression treatment has become a major challenge in the medical field. TCM, based on the holistic view and treatment based on syndrome differentiation, has unique advantages in the prevention and treatment of depression, including stable therapeutic effects, low recurrence rate, minimal side effects, and good patient compliance. As one of the heat-clearing drugs, Gardeniae Fructus has the effects of clearing heat, purging fire, cooling blood, and relieving restlessness, which makes it effective in treating patients with "stagnation syndrome". Literature studies have found that active components of Gardeniae Fructus, such as geniposide, genipin, and crocin, as well as drug pairs such as Gardeniae Fructus-Chuanxiong Rhizoma, Gardeniae Fructus-Acanthopanacis Senticosi Radix et Rhizoma Seu Caulis, and Gardeniae Fructus-Lycii Fructus, and prescriptions such as Zhizichi Tang, Yuejuwan, Zhizi Houpotang, Danzhi Xiaoyaosan, and Jieyu Anshen Granules, have shown significant antidepressant effects. The mechanism of action may be related to regulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, modulating neurotransmitters such as serotonin (5-HT) and dopamine (DA), increasing brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus, enhancing neurogenesis in the hippocampus, and regulating the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway to inhibit neuroinflammation. This article summarized the research progress on the active components of Gardeniae Fructus, drug pairs, and Chinse medicinal prescriptions containing Gardeniae Fructus, providing references for further promoting the clinical application of Gardeniae Fructus and its prescriptions in the treatment of depression.
10.ZHANG Lei's Experience in Treating Scleroderma from “Extraordinary Pathogens Entering Collaterals”
Yanan LI ; Erping XU ; Rui ZHANG ; Chenlin WANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2023;64(17):1745-1749
This paper summarized professor ZHANG Lei′s experience in treating scleroderma from “extraordinary pathogens entering collaterals”. The basic pathogenesis of scleroderma is “extraordinary pathogens entering the collaterals”, and extraordinary pathogens can be divided into external and internal categories. External extraordinary pathogens are mostly exogenous wind, cold and damp pathogens, and the pathogenesis is wind, cold and damp invading skin stria and retaining collaterals. Most of the endogenous extraordinary pathogens are turbid phlegm and blood stasis, and the pathogenesis is endogenous phlegm and stasis leaving the channels and overflowing the collaterals, and blocking the collaterals. Blocked by extraordinary pathogens for a long time, the long illness will lead to deficiency and develop into a syndrome of collaterals excess and channels deficiency. Therefore, professor ZHANG creats Tengluo Beverage (藤络饮) as the basic formula to unblock collaterals and dispel pathogens, and recommends to add or subtract it according to the different syndrome and pathogenic characteristics of the edema stage, sclerosis stage, and atrophy stage. In the edema stage, it is advised to expel wind, remove dampness and unblock the collaterals, while in the sclerosis stage, the method of dissolving phlegm, expelling stasis and unblocking collaterals should be used; in the atrophic stage, it is suggested to differentiate the deficiency of qi, blood, yin and yang, and eliminate extraordinary pathogens on the basis of reinforcing healthy qi .

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