1.Efficacy and safety analysis of Wuling capsules combined with fluoxetine in the treatment of adolescents with first-episode moderate-to-severe depressive disorder accompanied by insomnia
Lian HE ; Yanping SHU ; Yuan YUN ; Yun MO ; Qian ZHANG
China Pharmacy 2026;37(4):456-461
OBJECTIVE To investigate the efficacy and safety of Wuling capsules combined with fluoxetine in the treatment of adolescents with first-episode moderate-to-severe depressive disorder accompanied by insomnia. METHODS The clinical data of 476 adolescents with first-episode moderate-to-severe depression accompanied by insomnia admitted to our hospital from June 2022 to May 2025, were retrospectively collected. According to the initial treatment regimen, patients were divided into a control group (241 cases, treated with fluoxetine alone) and an observation group (235 cases, treated with Wuling capsules combined with fluoxetine). The depression severity (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-17 Item and the Self-Rating Depression Scale scores), sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score, sleep latency, wake after sleep onset, total sleep time, sleep efficiency), serum neuroendocrine indicator (cortisol) and inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein, interleukin-6) were compared between the two groups before treatment and at 4th and 8th weeks of treatment. The effective rate at 8th weeks and the occurrence of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were also compared between the two groups. RESULTS Before treatment, there were no significant differences in depression severity, sleep quality, serum neuroendocrine indicator, and inflammatory markers between the two groups ( P >0.05). At 4th and 8th weeks, both groups showed significant improvement in these indicators compared to those before treatment, with the observation group demonstrating significantly greater improvement than the control group at the corresponding time points ( P <0.05). At 8th week, the eff ective rate of the observation group was 90.21%, significantly higher than 80.50% in the control group ( P <0.05). The incidence of nausea, headache, fatigue, dry mouth, and palpitations, as well as the total incidence of ADRs, did not differ significantly between the two groups ( P >0.05). CONCLUSIONS Wuling capsules combined with fluoxetine can significantly improve the effective rate in adolescents with first-episode moderate-to-severe depression accompanied by insomnia, accelerate the relief of depressive symptoms, improve sleep quality, and reduce serum neuroendocrine indicator and inflammatory markers, with a favorable safety profile.
2.From Cathartic Colon to Cathartic-dependent Constipation: Diagnostic-therapeutic Strategies from Integrative Medicine Perspective
Youcheng HE ; Fengru JIANG ; Yanru WANG ; Minghan HUANG ; Yue WU ; Chunyu ZHOU ; Lian MO ; Lifeng WEI ; Keyi PAN ; Shuyu CAI ; Jianye YUAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(11):162-172
Both cathartic colon (CC) and cathartic-dependent constipation (CDC) are caused by the abuse of stimulant laxatives, while their concepts are not completely the same.Starting from the disease name of CC, this article traced the origin and evolution of the concept of CC, summarizes and compared the similarities and differences between CC, CDC, and slow transit constipation (STC), and called for strict differentiation among the three.Furthermore, this article explored the specific contents of Western medicine clinical subtypes and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome differentiation of CDC and delved into the TCM pathogenesis of CDC according to both literature and clinical practice.The relationship between clinical subtypes and TCM syndromes was established, and the syndrome characteristics of CDC of different clinical subtypes and TCM syndromes were summarized.The recommended prescriptions for corresponding syndromes were listed.A systematic CDC diagnosis and treatment approach of "clinical subtypes-syndrome differentiation-syndrome characteristics-recommended prescriptions" was thus formed.Additionally, the paper provides an overview of current research on CDC in both Western medicine and TCM contexts, identifies future research directions, and suggests research pathways for refining and advancing CDC studies.
3.Clinical Efficacy of Yiqi Yangyin Huoxue Prescription in Treatment of Cathartic Colon and Analysis of Influencing Factors of Disease Severity
Youcheng HE ; Jingyi SHAN ; Fengru JIANG ; Yue WU ; Chunyu ZHOU ; Lu HANG ; Yan ZHOU ; Lian MO ; Shuyu CAI ; Keyi PAN ; Lifeng WEI ; Jianye YUAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(11):173-184
ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy of the Yiqi Yangyin Huoxue prescription (YYHP) in the treatment of cathartic colon (CC) and its effects on fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and to explore the correlations among CC severity indicators and between these indicators and patient history. MethodsAccording to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 98 patients meeting the diagnostic criteria of both traditional Chinese and Western medicine for CC with the syndrome of Qi-Yin deficiency complicated by blood stasis were randomly assigned to an observation group and a control group. The observation group received YYHP granules, while the control group received lactulose. Both medications were administered twice daily, one sachet each time, half an hour after breakfast and dinner, with a treatment course of 8 weeks. The primary constipation symptom score, Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life (PAC-QOL) score, and TCM syndrome score were assessed before and after treatment and at the 8th week after the end of treatment. The overall clinical effective rate, as well as the efficacy attenuation index and degree, were evaluated. Fecal SCFA levels were measured using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Spearman correlation analysis was performed to explore the correlations among CC severity indicators and between these indicators and patient history. ResultsThe overall clinical effective rate in the observation group (95.83%) was higher than that in the control group (78.72%) (P<0.05). After treatment, the total scores for primary constipation symptoms, PAC-QOL, and TCM syndromes decreased in both groups (P<0.05), with more significant reductions in the observation group (P<0.05). The severity of all primary constipation symptoms was alleviated in both groups (P<0.05). In terms of "excessive straining and difficult defecation", "anal heaviness, incomplete evacuation, and bloating sensation", "abdominal distension", and "defecation frequency", the observation group showed better efficacy than the control group (P<0.05). Scores of the four PAC-QOL dimensions and the scores and severity of primary and secondary TCM symptoms were reduced in both groups (P<0.05), with more significant reductions in the observation group (P<0.05). After treatment, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, and total SCFAs in the observation group increased significantly (P<0.05). The efficacy attenuation index and degree in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). No severe adverse reactions occurred in either group, and there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups. Positive correlations of varying degrees were observed among the total scores of primary constipation symptoms, PAC-QOL, and TCM syndromes, as well as between these scores and the history of stimulant laxative use, disease duration, and age. ConclusionYYHP can effectively alleviate the primary constipation symptoms in CC patients, improve quality of life, and ameliorate TCM syndromes, with good safety. It also has the advantage of a lower rebound degree after drug withdrawal, and its mechanism may be related to increasing fecal SCFA levels. Long-term abuse of stimulant laxatives may aggravate the severity of CC and prolong the disease course.
4.Mechanism of Action of Modified Tongluo Tangtai Formula in Improving Myelin Damage in Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy Based on Wnt/β-catenin Signaling Pathway
Zhigang HE ; Mingzhu CHEN ; Jialu BAI ; Chunguang XIE ; Lian DU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(14):247-258
ObjectiveThis paper aims to explore the action and molecular mechanism of modified Tongluo Tangtai Formula(MTLTT) on myelin damage in diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) based on network pharmacology and in vitro experiments. MethodsThe chemical components of the MTLTT were retrieved from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) database and literature, and the component targets were collected from the SwissTargetPrediction database. The targets of DPN were collected from the GeneCards, OMIM, Disgenet, and GEO databases. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed using the Metascape database, and a network diagram was constructed using Cytoscape software. The binding actions of core components with glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK-3β) and β-catenin were analyzed by Autodock Vina. An in vitro DPN model was established by high glucose-induced Schwann cells and dorsal root ganglion cells (SCs/DRGs). The ultrastructural morphological changes of SCs and DRGs were observed by scanning electron microscope(SEM), and the expressions of myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) and myelin basic protein (MBP) were detected by immunofluorescence staining. The mRNA and protein expression levels of MAG, MBP, myelin protein 0 (P0), peripheral myelin protein 22 (PMP22), and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway-related protein β-catenin, GSK-3β, Wnt family member 3α (Wnt3α), and Wnt inhibitory factor-1 (Wif-1) were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) and Western blot. ResultsNetwork pharmacology analysis revealed that MTLTT components may treat DPN via the Wnt signaling pathway, involving key proteins such as GSK-3β, β-catenin and Wif-1. The molecular docking results indicate that atropine, apigenin, baicalein, isoflavanone, and albiflorin have good binding activity with GSK-3β, and that all 13 core components have stable binding activity with β-catenin. Cell experiments showed that compared with the blank group, SCs and DRGs in the model group exhibited severe morphological and structural abnormalities such as disintegration, shrinkage and axonal rupture, while these abnormal changes were improved after MTLTT intervention. Immunofluorescence results indicated that the fluorescence intensity of MAG and MBP was markedly decreased in the model group relative to the blank group(P<0.01), while MTLTT treatment obviously upregulated the expression of MAG and MBP compared with the model group (P<0.01). Real-time PCR and Western blot assays revealed that the expression levels of myelin-related molecules MAG, MBP, P0 and PMP22 were significantly reduced in the model group (P<0.05,P<0.01), and MTLTT remarkably increased their expression levels (P<0.05). In the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, the mRNA levels of GSK-3β, Wif-1 and Wnt3α were elevated and β-catenin mRNA expression was declined in the model group (P<0.01). Meanwhile, the protein expressions of GSK-3β and Wif-1 were upregulated, whereas those of Wnt3α and β-catenin were downregulated (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, MTLTT at different doses reduced the mRNA and protein levels of GSK-3β and Wif-1 to varying degrees (P<0.05), and distinctly enhanced the protein expression of Wnt3α and β-catenin(P<0.01). ConclusionMTLTT can alleviate high glucose-induced myelin damage. Its protective mechanism may promote myelin repair by upregulating the expression of MAG, MBP, P0 and PMP22, and the therapeutic effect is possibly associated with the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.
5.Research progress on pharmacological activities and mechanisms of farrerol
Siyuan XI ; Yin MA ; Yingying LIANG ; Wenwen LIAN ; Bingzhi MA ; Jun HE
China Pharmacy 2026;37(13):1768-1772
Farrerol is a dihydroflavone compound extracted from the dried leaves of Rhododendron dauricum belonging to the Ericaceae family. This article systematically reviews relevant research on farrerol both domestically and internationally, summarizes its pharmacological activities and mechanisms of action, and finds that it exerts cardiovascular and cerebrovascular protective effects by maintaining the homeostasis of vascular endothelial function and inhibiting vascular intimal hyperplasia; exerts renal protective effects by activating the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway to reduce renal damage; exerts liver protective effects by inhibiting the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B signaling pathway, activating the Nrf2 signaling pathway, improving insulin resistance, and reducing lipid deposition in the liver; exerts neuroprotective effects by activating the Nrf2/Keap1 signaling pathway, inhibiting the Toll-like receptor 4 and cyclic GMP-AMP synthase/stimulator of interferon genes signaling pathways to reduce neuroinflammatory damage; exerts bone protective effects by promoting tendon formation and inhibiting osteoclast differentiation; exerts antitumor effects by inducing tumor cell apoptosis and weakening tumor cell invasion and metastasis; and exerts antibacterial effects by downregulating α -toxin expression, interfering with β -lactamase/penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), and inhibiting PBP2a oligomerization. Currently, research on the pharmacological effects of farrerol is still mainly focused on animal and cell experiments. Further mechanistic studies and clinical trials are needed to provide theoretical basis for its new drug development and clinical application.
6.Research progress on pharmacological activities and mechanisms of farrerol
Siyuan XI ; Yin MA ; Yingying LIANG ; Wenwen LIAN ; Bingzhi MA ; Jun HE
China Pharmacy 2026;37(13):1768-1772
Farrerol is a dihydroflavone compound extracted from the dried leaves of Rhododendron dauricum belonging to the Ericaceae family. This article systematically reviews relevant research on farrerol both domestically and internationally, summarizes its pharmacological activities and mechanisms of action, and finds that it exerts cardiovascular and cerebrovascular protective effects by maintaining the homeostasis of vascular endothelial function and inhibiting vascular intimal hyperplasia; exerts renal protective effects by activating the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway to reduce renal damage; exerts liver protective effects by inhibiting the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B signaling pathway, activating the Nrf2 signaling pathway, improving insulin resistance, and reducing lipid deposition in the liver; exerts neuroprotective effects by activating the Nrf2/Keap1 signaling pathway, inhibiting the Toll-like receptor 4 and cyclic GMP-AMP synthase/stimulator of interferon genes signaling pathways to reduce neuroinflammatory damage; exerts bone protective effects by promoting tendon formation and inhibiting osteoclast differentiation; exerts antitumor effects by inducing tumor cell apoptosis and weakening tumor cell invasion and metastasis; and exerts antibacterial effects by downregulating α -toxin expression, interfering with β -lactamase/penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), and inhibiting PBP2a oligomerization. Currently, research on the pharmacological effects of farrerol is still mainly focused on animal and cell experiments. Further mechanistic studies and clinical trials are needed to provide theoretical basis for its new drug development and clinical application.
7.Color-component correlation and mechanism of component transformation of processed Citri Reticulatae Semen.
Kui-Lin ZHU ; Jin-Lian ZOU ; Xu-Li DENG ; Mao-Xin DENG ; Hai-Ming WANG ; Rui YIN ; Zhang-Xian CHEN ; Yun-Tao ZHANG ; Hong-Ping HE ; Fa-Wu DONG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(9):2382-2390
High-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) was used to determine the content of three major components in Citri Reticulatae Semen(CRS), including limonin, nomilin, and obacunone. The chromaticity of the CRS sample during salt processing and stir-frying was measured using a color difference meter. Next, the relationship between the color and content of the salt-processed CRS sample was investigated through correlation analysis. By integrating the oil bath technique for processing simulation with HPLC, the changes in the relative content of nomilin and its transformation products were analyzed, with its structural transformation pattern during processing identified. Additionally, RAW264.7 cells were induced with lipopolysaccharides(LPSs) to establish an inflammatory model, and the anti-inflammatory activity of nomilin and its transformation product, namely obacunone was evaluated. The results indicated that as processing progressed, E~*ab and L~* values showed a downward trend; a~* values exhibited a slow increase over a certain period, followed by no significant changes, and b~* values remained stable with no significant changes over a certain period and then started to decrease. The limonin content remained barely unchanged; the nomilin content decreased, and the obacunone increased significantly. The changing trends in content and color parameters during salt-processing and stir-frying were basically consistent. The content of nomilin and obacunone was significantly correlated with the colorimetric values(L~*, a~*, b~*, and E~*ab), while limonin content showed no significant correlation with these values. By analyzing HPLC patterns of nomylin at different heating temperatures and time, it was found that under conditions of 200-250 ℃ for heating of 5-60 min, the content of nomilin significantly decreased, while the obacunone content increased pronouncedly. The in vitro anti-inflammatory activity results indicated that compared to the model group, the group with a high concentration of nomilin and the groups with varying concentrations of obacunone showed significantly reduced release of nitric oxide(NO)(P<0.01). When both were at the same concentration, obacunone showed better performance in inhibiting NO release. In this study, the obvious correlation between the color and content of major components during the processing of CRS samples was identified, and the dynamic patterns of quality change in CRS samples during processing were revealed. Additionally, the study revealed and confirmed the transformation of nomilin into obacunone during processing, with the in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of obacunone significantly greater than that of nomilin. These findings provided a scientific basis for CRS processing optimization, tablet quality control, and its clinical application.
Mice
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Animals
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*
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RAW 264.7 Cells
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Limonins/chemistry*
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Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
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Citrus/chemistry*
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Color
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Benzoxepins/chemistry*
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Anti-Inflammatory Agents/chemistry*
8.Domestication progress of endangered Chinese medicinal material Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus.
Ting XIAO ; Ming-Hao YANG ; Qiu-Ling WANG ; Qiang LYU ; Yu-Qing ZHENG ; Lian-Cheng XU ; Ma YU ; Jian-He WEI
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(16):4483-4489
Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus is the dried bulb of perennial herbaceous plants in the Fritillaria genus(Liliaceae family) and is a representative traditional Chinese medicinal material with distinctive regional characteristics. Clinically, it is widely used in the treatment of dry cough, bronchial asthma, and other respiratory diseases, possessing significant medicinal and economic value and being highly esteemed in TCM. Currently, Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus primarily relies on wild harvesting. However, due to excessive collection, its wild resources have drastically declined, and all source species have been classified as category Ⅱ in the List of National Key Protected Wild Plants, exacerbating the supply-demand imbalance in the market. To mitigate this issue, large-scale cultivation through the domestication of wild Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus has become an inevitable trend. However, its strict environmental requirements, low propagation efficiency, high seedling mortality, and immature cultivation techniques have severely hindered industrialization. This study investigates the domestication process of Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus, focusing on seed propagation, seedling cultivation, and medicinal material production. It also reviews the species and distribution of wild resources, their endangered status, market supply-demand dynamics, and the historical and current development of domestication. The findings indicate that enhancing propagation efficiency, optimizing cultivation models, and distinguishing between seed propagation and medicinal material production are key measures to accelerate the industrialization of domesticated Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus. This research aims to promote the industrialization of Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus domestication and provide a reference model for the conservation and sustainable utilization of rare and endangered medicinal plant resources.
Fritillaria/chemistry*
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Endangered Species
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Plants, Medicinal/growth & development*
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/economics*
;
China
9.Estimation of Primary Electron Beam Parameters of Individual Linear Accelerator Using Monte Carlo Method.
Yisong HE ; Hang YU ; Yuchuan FU ; Jinyou HU ; Lian ZOU
Chinese Journal of Medical Instrumentation 2025;49(4):375-382
OBJECTIVE:
To estimate the primary electron beam parameters (PEB), including energy, radial intensity distribution and average angular divergence, of the individual linear accelerator using the Monte Carlo method.
METHODS:
A model of the treatment head and a standard field were built by BEAMnrc, and the dose distribution was simulated in water phantoms by DOSXYZnrc to obtain the percentage depth dose curve and off-axis ratio. By debugging the parameters mentioned above until the simulation and measurement results could match.
RESULTS:
The simulation and measurement results could achieve the best match when the parameters mentioned above were 6.25 MeV, 0.95 mm and 0.1° respectively.
CONCLUSION
The PEB of a linear accelerator could have a significant impact on the output beam characteristics. Monte Carlo estimation is one of the most crucial steps in establishing an individual linear accelerator model.
Monte Carlo Method
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Particle Accelerators
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Electrons
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Radiotherapy Dosage
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Phantoms, Imaging
10.The significance of preoperative neck enhanced multidetector computed tomography in predicting the recurrent veins and classifying their courses of the submental flap reflux vein for repair in pharyngeal cancer
Qian SHI ; Jugao FANG ; Qi ZHONG ; Lizhen HOU ; Hongzhi MA ; Ling FENG ; Shizhi HE ; Meng LIAN ; Yanming ZHAO ; Ru WANG ; Yunxia LI ; Xixi SHEN ; Yifan YANG ; Lingwa WANG
Chinese Journal of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery 2025;60(10):1208-1214
Objective:To evaluate preoperative high-resolution thin-layer cervical enhanced CT used to predict the venous route of the submental flap reflux vein and its relationship with adjacent structures in order to guide the anatomical understanding and protection of submental flap in pharyngeal cancer surgery.Methods:Sixty consecutive patients with pharyngeal cancer who underwent submental flap repair surgery in our department from March 2022 to December 2024, as well as 60 patients who were accepted neck dissection suffering other cancers, were selected. Before surgery, high-resolution cervical enhanced CT scans were performed, and the position of the transverse section of the facial vein in the venous phase horizontal image gradually variation tendency was focused layer by layer. The direction and adjacent relationship of the submental flap reflux veins were determined and recorded. Combined with 60 patients with other head and neck tumors who underwent neck dissection in our department during the same period (a total of 120 cases, 240 sides), the classification and management of the draining veins of Fang′s mental flap were conducted. Type Ⅰ mainly drains into the internal jugular vein; Type Ⅱ mainly drains into the external jugular vein and Type Ⅲ mainly drains into the anterior jugular vein (often accompanied by an external jugular draining branch). The status and proportion of venous drainage were analyzed.Results:Vascular predictive coincidence rate was 98.3% (59/60) among the 60 patients with pharyngeal cancer. Only one patient was predicted to have a simple return to the external jugular vein. However, during the operation, in addition to the main return to the external jugular vein, a small portion also returned to the internal jugular vein. Submental flap reflux vessels were classified into three types based on intraoperative submental flap venous return in 60 cases of laryngopharyngeal cancer, in conjunction with the analysis of venous return patterns from 240 cervical CT scans. Type Ⅰ mainly refluxed to the internal jugular vein, accounting for 42.1%. Type Ⅱ mainly refluxed to the external jugular vein (47.9%). Type Ⅲ mainly refluxed to the anterior jugular vein (10.0%). The total detection rate of CT reading of 240 venous reflux was 98.7% (237/240). Vascular predictive coincidence rate was 97.9%(235/240).Conclusion:The detailed analysis of submental venous return vessels can accurately predict the direction of reflux veins and its surrounding areas by preoperative high-resolution enhanced CT scan. This provides reliable guidance for the anatomy and protection of the submental flap reflux veins during surgery.

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