Objective: This study aimed to investigate a mature three-dimensional reconstruction technique using Cordyceps sinensis as an example, to establish the methodology for creating digital specimens of traditional Chinese medicine. This can lay a solid the foundation for digitizing traditional Chinese medicine samples and identifying their characteristics.
Methods: Based on the research results related to the characteristics identification of Cordyceps sinensis generated by the research team and survey of the existing literature, a characteristic identification evaluation method was designed. The key technical factors of three-dimensional reconstruction (measurement methods, repeatability and reproducibility, synthetic computation, digital specimen format, and color correction) were investigated. A methodology for constructing three-dimensional digital specimens of Cordyceps sinensis was established, and several types of samples (various origins, different completeness, diverse types) were subjected to three-dimensional reconstruction to validate this novel method.
Results: Through this methodological research, the application of three-dimensional reconstruction technology in the construction of digital specimens of Cordyceps sinensis was elegantly established. This method can accurately reproduce all the characteristic identification features of the physical samples. All the samples could be reconstructed into their corresponding three-dimensional digital specimens.
Conclusion: Overall, combining computer-aided three-dimensional reconstruction technology and methodology developed by us can create three-dimensional digital specimens of Cordyceps sinensis and provide a fundamental assessment for restoring the characteristic identification features.

Based on the traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） theories of body fluid metabolism and turbid phlegm obstructing the orifices， and drawing on recent advances in cerebrospinal fluid-interstitial fluid （CSF-ISF） exchange， glymphatic clearance， and extracellular matrix （ECM） regulation， this article discusses the possible scientific connotation of "invisible phlegm" from the perspectives of pathogenesis， clinical manifestations， and therapeutic implications. Impaired brain fluid exchange may lead to reduced clearance， the retention of metabolic wastes and pathological proteins. Abnormal ECM remodeling may further disrupt molecular diffusion and local microenvironmental homeostasis， resulting in a pathological process characterized by slowed fluid movement， reduced clearance， and abnormal retention. This process bears a certain functional resemblance to the TCM pathogenesis of impaired distribution of body fluids， endogenous formation of turbid phlegm and obstruction of the brain orifices， and may also be associated with manifestations such as a clouded sensation in the head， cognitive abnormalities， and emotional disturbances. On this basis， the potential effects of certain phlegm-dissolving Chinese medicines in improving brain clearance function and extracellular microenvironmental homeostasis warrant further investigation. We therefore propose that， the "invisible phlegm" of TCM in brain tissue may manifest as a pathological retention state characterized by restricted fluid exchange， impaired clearance function， and extracellular microenvironmental imbalance. This perspective may provide a new avenue for investigating TCM treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders from the perspective of phlegm.

Based on the traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） theories of body fluid metabolism and turbid phlegm obstructing the orifices， and drawing on recent advances in cerebrospinal fluid-interstitial fluid （CSF-ISF） exchange， glymphatic clearance， and extracellular matrix （ECM） regulation， this article discusses the possible scientific connotation of "invisible phlegm" from the perspectives of pathogenesis， clinical manifestations， and therapeutic implications. Impaired brain fluid exchange may lead to reduced clearance， the retention of metabolic wastes and pathological proteins. Abnormal ECM remodeling may further disrupt molecular diffusion and local microenvironmental homeostasis， resulting in a pathological process characterized by slowed fluid movement， reduced clearance， and abnormal retention. This process bears a certain functional resemblance to the TCM pathogenesis of impaired distribution of body fluids， endogenous formation of turbid phlegm and obstruction of the brain orifices， and may also be associated with manifestations such as a clouded sensation in the head， cognitive abnormalities， and emotional disturbances. On this basis， the potential effects of certain phlegm-dissolving Chinese medicines in improving brain clearance function and extracellular microenvironmental homeostasis warrant further investigation. We therefore propose that， the "invisible phlegm" of TCM in brain tissue may manifest as a pathological retention state characterized by restricted fluid exchange， impaired clearance function， and extracellular microenvironmental imbalance. This perspective may provide a new avenue for investigating TCM treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders from the perspective of phlegm.

Objective:To explore the possible pharmacodynamic material basis and mechanism of Shaogan Fuzi Decoction in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis through ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-HRMS/MS) combined with network pharmacology and molecular docking method.Methods:The blood components of Shaogan Fuzi Decoction were analyzed by UPLC-HRMS/MS; the targets of blood components in Shaogan Fuzi Decoction were predicted by PubChem database and Swiss Target Prediction database; DrugBank database, Therapeutic Target Database (TTD) and GeneCards database were used to screen rheumatoid arthritis-related targets, and Venn map of common targets was obtained; the protein interaction network was constructed by STRING database, and the key targets and key components were screened; GO function enrichment analysis and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis were performed by DAVID 6.8 database; the "blood component-target-pathway" network was constructed by Cytoscape 3.2.1 software; Autodock software was used to verify the molecular docking between the predicted key components and key targets in the network.Results:Totally 26 blood components of Shaogan Fuzi Decoction, 526 related targets, 478 related targets of rheumatoid arthritis, and 111 common targets were obtained; the key components such as tangeretin, kaempferol, glycyrrhetinic acid, liquiritigenin, quillaic acid and glabrolide were screened, which acted on key targets such as TNF, IL6, VEGFA, PTGS2, JUN and PPARG. They were mainly involved inflammatory response, steroid metabolic process, response to lipopolysaccharide, extracellular region, cytoplasm, RNA polymerase Ⅱ transcription factor activity, steroid bindingand other biological processes. It mainly regulated steroid hormone biosynthesis, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, apoptosis, IL-17 signaling pathway, rheumatoid arthritisand other signaling pathways. Molecular docking results showed that the key components had good binding activity with key targets.Conclusion:Shaogan Fuzi Decoction may act on TNF, IL6, VEGFA, PTGS2, JUN, PPARG and other targets through tangeretin, kaempferol, glycyrrhetinic acid and other blood components to regulate PI3K-Akt and other signaling pathways, inhibiting cell proliferation and promoting apoptosis, reducing inflammation, to treat rheumatoid arthritis.