1.Pathogenic Mechanisms of Spleen Deficiency-Phlegm Dampness in Obesity and Traditional Chinese Medicine Prevention and Treatment Strategies:from the Perspective of Immune Inflammation
Yumei LI ; Peng XU ; Xiaowan WANG ; Shudong CHEN ; Le YANG ; Lihua HUANG ; Chuang LI ; Qinchi HE ; Xiangxi ZENG ; Juanjuan WANG ; Wei MAO ; Ruimin TIAN
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(1):31-37
Based on spleen deficiency-phlegm dampness as the core pathogenesis of obesity, and integrating recent advances in modern medicine regarding the key role of immune inflammation in obesity, this paper proposes a multidimensional pathogenic network of "obesity-spleen deficiency-phlegm dampness-immune imbalance". Various traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) herbs that strengthen the spleen, regulate qi, and resolve phlegm and dampness can treat obesity by improving spleen-stomach transport and transformation, promoting water-damp metabolism, and regulating immune homeostasis. This highlights immune inflammation as an important entry point to elucidate the TCM concepts of "spleen deficiency-phlegm dampness" and the therapeutic principle of "strengthening the spleen and eliminating dampness to treat obesity". By systematically analyzing the intrinsic connection between "spleen deficiency generating dampness, internal accumulation of phlegm dampness" and immune dysregulation in obesity, this paper aims to provide theoretical support for TCM treatment of obesity based on dampness.
2.Current Status of Traditional Chinese Medicine Diagnosis and Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease and the Research on Mechanism
Junxiang LI ; Hong SHEN ; Tangyou MAO ; Lei ZHU ; Jiaqi ZHANG ; Zhibin WANG ; Xudong TANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(1):103-110
In recent years, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has achieved significant progress in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). A comprehensive literature search was conducted covering the period from January 1, 2010, to December 30, 2024, across Chinese databases including China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data, VIP China Science and Technology Journal Database, and the Chinese Biomedical Literature Service System, as well as international databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase. The clinical applications and mechanistic studies of TCM in IBD were systematically reviewed. The current status of TCM research on the etiology and pathogenesis of IBD, innovative clinical practices, and multimodal therapeutic approaches, including Chinese herbal formulas, single herbs or active compounds, acupuncture, herbal retention enema, and acupoint application, were summarized, together with their synergistic effects when combined with western medical treatments. The development and application of Chinese patent medicines for IBD are undergoing a profound transition from efficacy validation to mechanistic exploration. Mechanistic studies on the effects of TCM in IBD mainly focus on regulating gut microbiota homeostasis, repairing the intestinal mucosal barrier, and modulating intestinal immune balance. Furthermore, future research directions for TCM-based IBD management are proposed, including the establishment of TCM diagnostic and treatment models, expanding integrated applications of external and internal TCM therapies, innovating personalized treatment strategies, and advancing drug development. These efforts aim to provide insights for the standardized and precision-oriented development of TCM in the diagnosis and treatment of IBD.
3.Osteogenic ability and autophagy level between normal and inflammatory periodontal ligament stem cells
Jiaqi MAO ; Liru ZHAO ; Dongru YANG ; Yongqing HU ; Bowen DAI ; Shujuan LI
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(1):74-79
BACKGROUND:Inflammation affects the osteogenic differentiation of periodontal ligament stem cells,and the osteogenic ability and autophagy level of periodontal ligament stem cells are closely related.However,there are no relevant reports on whether inflammation affects the osteogenic ability and autophagy level of periodontal ligament stem cells at different stages of osteogenic differentiation. OBJECTIVE:To explore alkaline phosphatase expression and autophagy periodontal ligament stem cells levels in periodontitis and normal conditions. METHODS:Periodontal ligament stem cells from normal and periodontitis patients were isolated and cultured,and underwent Vimentin,pan-CK,and Stro-1 fluorescence staining.At 3,7,and 14 days of osteogenic differentiation,western blot assay was used to detect the protein expression levels of alkaline phosphatase,LC3B,Beclin1,and ATG5 in normal and inflammatory periodontal ligament stem cells.The mRNA expression levels of alkaline phosphatase,bone sialoprotein,osteocalcin,Runx2,LC3B,Beclin1,and ATG5 were detected by real-time PCR. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Stro-1 was positive,Vimentin was positive,and pan CK was negative in periodontal ligament stem cells.(2)At 3,7,and 14 days after osteogenic differentiation,compared with normal periodontal ligament stem cells,the mineralization nodules formed by periodontal ligament stem cells from inflammatory sources were significantly reduced(P<0.01);the expression of alkaline phosphatase protein and mRNA was significantly lower(P<0.05);the mRNA expression levels of bone sialoprotein,osteocalcin,and Runx2 were significantly decreased(P<0.05).(3)At 7 and 14 days after osteogenic differentiation,compared with normal periodontal ligament stem cells,the expression levels of ATG5,LC3B,and Beclin1 proteins and mRNA of periodontal ligament stem cells were downregulated(P<0.05).These findings suggest that inflammation reduces the activity of periodontal ligament stem cells in mineralizing nodule formation and the expression of alkaline phosphatase and weakens the autophagy potential of periodontal ligament stem cells at 7 and 14 days after osteogenic differentiation.
4.Textual Research on Key Information of Classic Formula Shengma Gegentang
Yuli LI ; Ping JIANG ; Zhenyi YUAN ; Yuanyuan HE ; Ya'nan MAO ; Shasha WANG ; Wenyan ZHU ; Zhouan YIN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(8):187-197
Shengma Gegentang is one of the classic formulas in the Catalogue of Ancient Classic Prescriptions (Second Batch). This study reviewed ancient and modern literature and used literature tracing and bibliometric methods to analyze the historical evolution, efficacy, indications, dosage decoctions, and modern clinical disease spectrum of Shengma Gegentang. The results indicated that the earliest record of Shengma Gegentang can be found in the Taiping Huimin Heji Jufang of the Song dynasty, but its origin can be traced back to the Shaoyao Siwu Jiejitang in the Beiji Qianjin Yaofang of the Tang dynasty. The composition dosage of Shengma Gegentang is 413 g of Cimicifugae Rhizoma, 619.5 g of Puerariae Lobatae Radix, 413 g of Paeoniae Radix Alba, and 413 g of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, which are ground into coarse powder. Each dose is 12.39 g, and the amount of water added is 300 mL. 100 mL of solution is decocted and taken at the right time. The four drugs in the formula play the role of relieving exterior syndrome, penetrating pathogenic factors, and detoxicating together. Its indications are widely involved in internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery, ophthalmology and otorhinolaryngology, obstetrics and gynecology, sexually transmitted diseases, and other diseases, such as measles, sores, acne, spots, surgical gangrene, red eyes, toothache, chancre, and fetal poison. The epidemic diseases treated by Shengma Gegentang are complicated, including rash, pox, macula, numbness, summer diarrhea, dysentery, sha disease, febrile symptoms, spring warmth, winter warmth, and cold pestilence. At the same time, it is a plague prevention formula. Although Shengma Gegentang has a wide range of indications, it cannot be separated from the pathogenic mechanism of evil Qi blocking the muscle surface and heat in the lungs and stomach. The modern clinical disease spectrum of Shengma Gegentang involves the ophthalmology and otorhinolaryngology system, nervous system, pediatric-related diseases and syndromes, skin system, hepatobiliary system, and digestive system. It plays a key role in the treatment of epidemic diseases such as measles, chronic hepatitis B, dysentery, and tetanus.
5.Pharmaceutical care for a patient with empagliflozin-induced euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis
Lili YANG ; Qi LI ; Hui WANG ; Ruilong GAO ; Min MAO
China Pharmacy 2025;36(2):214-218
OBJECTIVE To provide a reference for the pharmaceutical care of a patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) who developed euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis (euDKA) after taking empagliflozin. METHODS Clinical pharmacists provided pharmaceutical care for a patient with T2DM and LGMD who developed euDKA after taking empagliflozin. According to the patient’s recent use of medications and his conditions, clinical pharmacists assessed the correlation between euDKA and empagliflozin as “very likely”. As to euDKA, clinical pharmacists suggested discontinuing empagliflozin and metformin, and giving intravenous infusion of 10% Glucose injection instead of 5% Glucose injection for fluid resuscitation. Clinical pharmacists monitored the patient’s laboratory indicators such as arterial blood gas analysis, blood/urine ketones and electrolytes. They assisted physicians to decide when to stop intravenous supplements of liquid and insulin. Clinical pharmacists also assisted physicians to adjust the antidiabetic drugs and educated the patient to avoid empagliflozin or other sodium- glucose linked transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i). RESULTS Physicians adopted the suggestions of clinical pharmacists. After treatment, the patient’s condition improved, and he was allowed to be discharged with medication. CONCLUSIONS euDKA is a relatively rare and serious adverse reaction associated with SGLT2i, and the patients with LGMD are susceptible to euDKA. Clinical pharmacists assist physicians in developing personalized medication plans by evaluating the association between euDKA and empagliflozin, adjusting medication regimens,conducting pharmaceutical monitoring,and other pharmaceutical services. Meanwhile, they provide medication education to patients to ensure their medication safety.
6.Meta-analysis of the effects of gene polymorphism on plasma concentration of voriconazole in patients with invasive fungal infection
Yaxuan LI ; Xingde LI ; Guohui WANG ; Panpan MAO ; Xuejiao MA ; Cangsang SONG
China Pharmacy 2025;36(2):225-231
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the influence of gene polymorphism on plasma minimum concentration (cmin) of voriconazole (VRZ) in patients with invasive fungal infection. METHODS The Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, China Biomedical Literature Database, CNKI, VIP and Wanfang Data were searched for literature on the correlation between gene polymorphisms and cmin of VRZ from inception to April 2024. After screening the literature, extracting data, and evaluating the quality of the literature, meta-analysis was performed using R 4.3.2 software. RESULTS A total of 21 studies with 2 454 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that the VRZ cmin of CYP2C19 IM and PM types was significantly higher than EM type, and the VRZ cmin of IM type was significantly lower than PM type (P<0.01). The VRZ cmin of CYP2C9 rs1057910 AA type was significantly higher than AC/CC type, and that of CYP3A5 rs776746 CC type was significantly higher than TT type (P<0.01). The VRZ cmin of POR rs10954732 GG type was significantly higher than GA and AA types, and that of POR rs1057868 CT type was significantly lower than TT type (P<0.01). The VRZ cmin of ABCB1 rs1045642 CC type was significantly higher than TT type (P<0.05). The VRZ cmin of NR1I2 rs2472677 CT type was significantly higher than TT type, and rs7643645 AA type was significantly higher than AG type (P<0.05). The VRZ cmin of ABCC2 rs717620 CC type was significantly lower than CT type and TT type, and the CT type was significantly lower than TT type (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS Mutant alleles in CYP2C19, CYP2C9 rs1057910, CYP3A5 rs776746, POR rs10954732, ABCB1 rs1045642 and NR1I2 rs7643645 can lead to a decrease in VRZ plasma concentration, and mutant allele in ABCC2 rs717620 can lead to an increase in VRZ plasma concentration.
7.Research progress on the interaction between immunosuppressants and intestinal flora after liver transplantation
Saijuan LU ; Cangsang SONG ; Xingde LI ; Guohui WANG ; Panpan MAO
China Pharmacy 2025;36(3):362-366
Immunosuppressants (including cyclosporine, tacrolimus, mycophenolate esters, glucocorticoids, etc.) are the first choice of drugs to prevent organ rejection after liver transplantation, which can effectively reduce the host immune response to the graft, improve the success rate of transplantation, and prolong the survival of patients. Liver transplantation is associated with intestinal flora, while immunosuppressive agents interact with intestinal flora. Immunosuppressive agents change the abundance, composition and metabolites of intestinal flora, while a series of enzymes and metabolites produced by intestinal flora may chemically alter the absorption and metabolism of immunosuppressants. In addition, the incidence of postoperative infection in liver transplantion patients is relatively high, while gut flora affects inflammatory factors, and immunosuppressants interact with inflammatory factors. To some extent, immunosuppressants can be thought of as acting through intestinal flora in patients after liver transplantation.
8.Research progress on the mechanism of sesquiterpenoids against hepatocellular carcinoma
Jingxin MAO ; Xin DU ; Yan LI
China Pharmacy 2025;36(3):379-384
As one of the most common solid organ malignant tumors in the world, hepatocellular carcinoma has climbed to the fourth place in incidence rate and the second place in mortality in China, which seriously threatens people’s health. Terpenoids are natural active substances widely present in nature, among which sesquiterpenoids are numerous. They exhibit a variety of pharmacological activities, such as anti-tumor, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antioxidant activities. This article reviews the research progress on the anti-hepatocellular carcinoma mechanism of sesquiterpenes from 2015 to 2024. The results showed that 24 sesquiterpenoids for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma have been reported in the literature in the past 10 years, and these compounds have shown potential in treating hepatocellular carcinoma by inhibiting cancer cell proliferation, inducing apoptosis, preventing invasion and metastasis, regulating immunity, and enhancing anti-drug resistance. The mechanism of anti-hepatocellular carcinoma mainly involves three regulatory pathways: phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/ mammalian target of rapamycin signaling pathway, nuclear factor kappa-B signaling pathway, and mitochondrial pathway. In the future, it is necessary to continue to explore new anti-hepatocellular carcinoma drugs with high research value, conduct in-depth analysis on the mechanism of synergistic anti-hepatocellular cancer effects of multiple components, targets, pathways, and accelerate the development of finished products in order to be widely used in clinical practice.
9.Pharmaceutical care for a patient with empagliflozin-induced euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis
Lili YANG ; Qi LI ; Hui WANG ; Ruilong GAO ; Min MAO
China Pharmacy 2025;36(2):214-218
OBJECTIVE To provide a reference for the pharmaceutical care of a patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) who developed euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis (euDKA) after taking empagliflozin. METHODS Clinical pharmacists provided pharmaceutical care for a patient with T2DM and LGMD who developed euDKA after taking empagliflozin. According to the patient’s recent use of medications and his conditions, clinical pharmacists assessed the correlation between euDKA and empagliflozin as “very likely”. As to euDKA, clinical pharmacists suggested discontinuing empagliflozin and metformin, and giving intravenous infusion of 10% Glucose injection instead of 5% Glucose injection for fluid resuscitation. Clinical pharmacists monitored the patient’s laboratory indicators such as arterial blood gas analysis, blood/urine ketones and electrolytes. They assisted physicians to decide when to stop intravenous supplements of liquid and insulin. Clinical pharmacists also assisted physicians to adjust the antidiabetic drugs and educated the patient to avoid empagliflozin or other sodium- glucose linked transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i). RESULTS Physicians adopted the suggestions of clinical pharmacists. After treatment, the patient’s condition improved, and he was allowed to be discharged with medication. CONCLUSIONS euDKA is a relatively rare and serious adverse reaction associated with SGLT2i, and the patients with LGMD are susceptible to euDKA. Clinical pharmacists assist physicians in developing personalized medication plans by evaluating the association between euDKA and empagliflozin, adjusting medication regimens,conducting pharmaceutical monitoring,and other pharmaceutical services. Meanwhile, they provide medication education to patients to ensure their medication safety.
10.Meta-analysis of the effects of gene polymorphism on plasma concentration of voriconazole in patients with invasive fungal infection
Yaxuan LI ; Xingde LI ; Guohui WANG ; Panpan MAO ; Xuejiao MA ; Cangsang SONG
China Pharmacy 2025;36(2):225-231
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the influence of gene polymorphism on plasma minimum concentration (cmin) of voriconazole (VRZ) in patients with invasive fungal infection. METHODS The Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, China Biomedical Literature Database, CNKI, VIP and Wanfang Data were searched for literature on the correlation between gene polymorphisms and cmin of VRZ from inception to April 2024. After screening the literature, extracting data, and evaluating the quality of the literature, meta-analysis was performed using R 4.3.2 software. RESULTS A total of 21 studies with 2 454 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that the VRZ cmin of CYP2C19 IM and PM types was significantly higher than EM type, and the VRZ cmin of IM type was significantly lower than PM type (P<0.01). The VRZ cmin of CYP2C9 rs1057910 AA type was significantly higher than AC/CC type, and that of CYP3A5 rs776746 CC type was significantly higher than TT type (P<0.01). The VRZ cmin of POR rs10954732 GG type was significantly higher than GA and AA types, and that of POR rs1057868 CT type was significantly lower than TT type (P<0.01). The VRZ cmin of ABCB1 rs1045642 CC type was significantly higher than TT type (P<0.05). The VRZ cmin of NR1I2 rs2472677 CT type was significantly higher than TT type, and rs7643645 AA type was significantly higher than AG type (P<0.05). The VRZ cmin of ABCC2 rs717620 CC type was significantly lower than CT type and TT type, and the CT type was significantly lower than TT type (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS Mutant alleles in CYP2C19, CYP2C9 rs1057910, CYP3A5 rs776746, POR rs10954732, ABCB1 rs1045642 and NR1I2 rs7643645 can lead to a decrease in VRZ plasma concentration, and mutant allele in ABCC2 rs717620 can lead to an increase in VRZ plasma concentration.

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