Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) resources are the essential material foundation for the development of TCM. The national survey of TCM resources serves as a periodic summary of these resources, ensuring the continuity, prosperity, and development of TCM in China. Since 1949, four national surveys of TCM resources have been conducted. The fourth survey incorporated an investigation into traditional knowledge related to TCM resources, including the traditional medicinal knowledge of Chinese ethnic minorities, with the goal of systematically exploring, preserving, and inheriting this knowledge. This manuscript provides an overview of the basic findings from the first three national surveys of TCM resources, while also clarifying the concepts, categories, forms, carriers, and acquisition pathways of traditional knowledge related to TCM resources. A preliminary summary of the findings from traditional knowledge investigations reported in current literature is also presented. Based on the fourth survey, this manuscript emphasizes the urgency of developing public medical knowledge through empirically-based investigations, the excavation, and compilation of traditional knowledge. It also outlines the potential for conducting "precise" investigations based on first-hand data obtained from the survey, as well as facilitating the discovery and evaluation of new medicines using traditional knowledge related to ethnic minority medicinal practices. This manuscript is expected to provide valuable insights for promoting the health and industrial development of ethnic minority populations in the post-"survey" phase.
Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; China/ethnology* ; Minority Groups ; Ethnicity ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice/ethnology* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Dendritic cells (DCs) serve as the primary antigen-presenting cells in autoimmune diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and exhibit distinct signaling profiles due to antigenic diversity. Type II collagen (CII) has been recognized as an RA-specific antigen; however, little is known about CII-stimulated DCs, limiting the development of RA-specific therapeutic interventions. In this study, we show that CII-stimulated DCs display a preferential gene expression profile associated with migration, offering a new perspective for targeting DC migration in RA treatment. Then, saikosaponin D (SSD) was identified as a compound capable of blocking CII-induced DC migration and effectively ameliorating arthritis. Optineurin (OPTN) is further revealed as a potential SSD target, with Optn deletion impairing CII-pulsed DC migration without affecting maturation. Function analyses uncover that OPTN prevents the proteasomal transport and ubiquitin-dependent degradation of C-C chemokine receptor 7 (CCR7), a pivotal chemokine receptor in DC migration. Optn-deficient DCs exhibit reduced CCR7 expression, leading to slower migration in CII-surrounded environment, thus alleviating arthritis progression. Our findings underscore the significance of antigen-specific DC activation in RA and suggest OPTN is a crucial regulator of CII-specific DC migration. OPTN emerges as a promising drug target for RA, potentially offering significant value for the therapeutic management of RA.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by persistent inflammation and joint damage, accompanied by the accumulation of plasma cells, which contributes to its pathogenesis. Understanding the genetic alterations occurring during plasma cell differentiation in RA can deepen our comprehension of its pathogenesis and guide the development of targeted therapeutic interventions. Here, our study elucidates the intricate molecular mechanisms underlying plasma cell differentiation by demonstrating that PRDX1 interacts with DOK3 and modulates its degradation by the autophagy-lysosome pathway. This interaction results in the inhibition of plasma cell differentiation, thereby alleviating the progression of collagen-induced arthritis. Additionally, our investigation identifies Salvianolic acid B (SAB) as a potent small molecular glue-like compound that enhances the interaction between PRDX1 and DOK3, consequently impeding the progression of collagen-induced arthritis by inhibiting plasma cell differentiation. Collectively, these findings underscore the therapeutic potential of developing chemical stabilizers for the PRDX1-DOK3 complex in suppressing plasma cell differentiation for RA treatment and establish a theoretical basis for targeting PRDX1-protein interactions as specific therapeutic targets in various diseases.

As a new type of immunosuppressant，iguratimod can mediate the anti-inflammatory signaling pathway by inhibiting the proliferation of inflammatory cells and reducing the release of inflammatory cytokines， and play the role of anti-inflammatory. It can affect the proliferation of immune cells and the expression of immune factors，reduce the production and deposition of immune complexes in the body，and play the role of immune regulation. It can regulate bone metabolism by mediating signaling pathways such as Wnt/β-catenin，Toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor-κB and osteoprotegerin/nuclear factor-κB receptor activating factor ligand， and play a role in bone protection. It can inhibit pulmonary fibrosis by inhibiting the expression of transforming growth factor β1/ Smad2/3 signaling pathway，tumor necrosis factor-α，interleukin-1，interleukin-6，matrix metalloproteinase-9 and other inflammatory cytokines in lung tissue，and inhibiting the expression of collagen and fibronectin. Its efficacy and safety have been confirmed in the clinical application of rheumatoid arthritis and primary Sjogren syndrome and included in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. It has also shown good efficacy in the clinical application of other connective tissue diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus and ankylosing spondylitis，and no obvious safety risks have been found.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) has become the main cause of chronic liver disease in children worldwide, and the incidence of NAFLD shows an increasing trend year by year. The risk factors leading to the onset of NAFLD in children are diversified and different from those in adults. At present, most medical institutions still pay little attention to NAFLD in children. This paper summarizes the risk factors and mechanisms for NAFLD in children, including gene polymorphism, maternal and fetal conditions, diet and living habits, environmental exposure, metabolic syndrome, endocrine-related mechanisms and intestinal microecology, in order to provide reference for the prevention and management of childhood NAFLD.

Scutellariae Radix， Coptidis Rhizoma， and Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex are three commonly used Chinese herbal medicines， and their application in classic famous prescriptions cannot be fully explained by the triple energizer classification method. This study reviewed the ancient materia medica works and elaborated on the functions of the three herbal medicines before the Song dynasty and after the Jin dynasty. The works before the Song dynasty mainly introduced the diseases treated by the three herbal medicines according to the Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica（《神农本草经》）， and the works after the Jin dynasty mainly expounded the indications of the three medicines in the Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica according to the new medical theory. Although all the three herbal medicines can treat heat syndrome， digestive system diseases， skin and mucosa diseases， they act on different targets. Scutellariae Radix can regulate Qi stagnation and reverse caused by the fire syndrome. Coptidis Rhizoma can treat excess fire and purulent bloody stool caused by the deficiency of Zang-fu organs. Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex mainly treats the diseases of the intestine and reproductive system and can kill parasites. In addition， this paper summarized the descriptions about the functions of Scutellariae Radix in eliminating blood blockage， Coptidis Rhizoma in protecting the intestine， and Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex in clearing the liver in ancient books. According to the sentences in the Treatise on Febrile and Miscellaneous Diseases（《伤寒杂病论》）， the application of Scutellariae Radix in Chaihu prescriptions， Coptidis Rhizoma in Baitouweng Decoction， and Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex in Zhizi Baipi Decoction confirms to the indications of the three medicines in the materia medica works before the Song Dynasty. The existing clinical and pharmacological research results confirm the indications of the three herbal medicines in the ancient works. The clinical application of the three medicines should refer to the materia medicia works before the Song dynasty， so as to achieve precise medication.

The key factors for producing the best quality Chinese herbal medicines are high-quality germplasm, suitable cultivation area and the proper processing methods for herbal raw materials. Gentiana crassicaulis in Gentiana (Sect. Cruciata), Gentianaceae is one of the original plants of the Chinese herb Qinjiao (Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix), and its type specimen was collected in Lijiang, Yunnan. There is a long planting history of the herb in this area. In this study a sampling plot was designated in these traditional planting areas. G. crassicaulis was planted and herbal raw materials were harvested from the plot. The raw materials were prepared locally and at a pharmaceutical factory in Shanghai using processing methods such as "sweating" or "no sweating", "slicing" or "no slicing" (whole root), and "stoving" or "no stoving" (air drying). The quality of all processed samples was evaluated. In addition, molecular markers were determined for identifying cultivated and wild samples from Lijiang, Yunnan. The results are as follows: ① Samples from the sampling plot and the field are taxonomically identified as Gentiana crassicaulis. ② A total of 270 sequences of trnC-GCA-petN, atpB-rbcL, psbN, ndhB-rps7 and ycf1 were obtained, and three genotypes were determined from the cultivated samples; the type III was shared by both cultivated and wild plants. Based on the molecular markers, a DNA barcoding method to identify cultivated and wild samples of G. crassicaulis from Lijiang, Yunnan was established. ③ Total content of loganic acid and gentiopicroside in all samples was ≥ 2.5%, and above the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2020) limit. ④ In HPLC fingerprinting, 9 common peaks were assigned and similarity between all samples was > 0.999; and ⑤ In a PCA score plot all slice samples were clustered, while whole root samples were scattered. Therefore, our studies could provide basic data for optimizing the processing method, producing best quality Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix, and evaluating the quality of different ecotype varieties and the multiple origin of herbal medicines.

Objective: To investigate the gene expression characteristics of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with high altitude pulmonary hypertension (HAPH) in Naxi residents living in Lijiang, Yunnan, and to explore the underlying pathogenesis and value for potential drug selection. Methods: This is a case-control study. Six patients with HPAH (HPAH group) and 4 normal subjects (control group) were selected from the Naxi residents who originally lived in Lijiang, Yunnan Province. The general clinical data of the two groups were collected, and the related indexes of pulmonary artery pressure were collected. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells of the subjects were collected for RNA sequencing. The differences on gene expression, regulatory network of transcription factors and drug similarity between the two groups were compared. The results were compared with the public data of idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH). Biological processes and signal pathways were analyzed and compared between HPAH and IPAH patients. Results: The age of 6 patients with HAPH was (68.1±8.3) years old, and there were 2 males (2/6). The age of 4 subjects in the control group was (62.3±10.9) years old, and there were 2 males (2/4). Tricuspid regurgitation velocity, tricuspid pressure gradient and pulmonary systolic pressure in HAPH group were significantly higher than those in control group (all P<0.05). The results of RNA sequencing showed that compared with the control group, 174 genes were significantly upregulated and 169 genes were downregulated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of HAPH group. These differentially expressed genes were associated with 220 biological processes, 52 molecular functions and 23 cell components. A total of 21 biological processes and 2 signal pathways differed between HPAH and IPAH groups, most of which were related to inflammation and immune response. ZNF384, SP1 and STAT3 were selected as highly correlated transcription factors by transcription factor prediction analysis. Trichostatin A and vorinostat were screened out as potential drugs for the treatment of HAPH by drug similarity analysis. Conclusions: There are significant differences in gene expression in peripheral blood monocytes between HAPH patients and normal population, and inflammation and immune dysfunction are the main pathogenic factors. Trichostatin A and Vorinostat are potential drugs for the treatment of HAPH.
Aged ; Altitude ; Altitude Sickness/genetics* ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; Familial Primary Pulmonary Hypertension/genetics* ; Humans ; Hydroxamic Acids/therapeutic use* ; Hypertension, Pulmonary/genetics* ; Inflammation ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear/pathology* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Transcription Factors ; Transcriptome/genetics* ; Vorinostat/therapeutic use*

Objective: To investigate the role of protein demethylase of lysine-specific demethylase 2 A(KDM2 A) in airway inflammation and remodeling in rats with bronchial asthma. Methods: Intraperitoneal injection of chicken ovalbumin(OVA) sensitized aerosol to stimulate the asthma rat model. Eighteen 6-8 weeks old SPF SD female rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, namely the control group, the asthma group for 4 weeks, and the asthma group for 8 weeks. After the success of the asthma model, the infiltration of inflammatory cells in the trachea and perivascular of the lung tissue was observed by HE staining; Goblet cell proliferation and mucus secretion were observed by PAS staining; Masson staining was used to observe the fibrosis of airway wall; The proliferation of airway smooth muscle was observed by fluorescence immunohistochemistry; The protein expression level of KDM2 A was detected by Western blot. Results: The inflammatory scores and inflammatory cell counts of rats in the asthma 4-week group and the asthma 8-week group were higher than those in the control group. There was a statistically significant difference in the above indicators between the asthma two groups(P<0.01). Compared with the control group, the proliferation of goblet cells and mucus secretion in the airway epithelium, the deposition of collagen fibers in the lung tissue and the proliferation of bronchial smooth muscle cells increased in the asthma groups(P<0.01). With the prolonged OVA sensitization time, airway inflammation and airway remodeling changes were more severe in the asthma 8-week group than those in the asthma 4-week group. The results of Western blot showed that the expression of KDM2 A in the lung tissues of the asthmatic 4-week group and the asthmatic 8-week group was higher than that of the control group, and the expression of KDM2 A in the asthma 8-week group was also higher than that of the asthma 4-week group. The differences were statistically significant(P<0.01). The expression of KDM2 A protein in lung tissue of rats in each group was positively correlated with airway inflammation score, total number of inflammatory cells, goblet cell mucus secretion score, lung tissue fibrosis ratio, and airway smooth muscle hyperplasia area(allP<0.01). Conclusion KDM2 A may play an important role in the pathogenesis of airway inflammation and airway remodeling in bronchial asthma.

Objective ::To investigate the role of trehalose in hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury and its underlying mechanisms.Methods:C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into no-ischemia group, ischemia-reperfusion group, trehalose-treated group and normal saline control group. After ischemia for 90 minutes, reperfusion immediately or 6h, blood and liver tissues were collected, and serum was separated. The liver function parameters of ALT, AST, the inflammatory factors of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-2, and the pathological changes of liver were detected to study the role of trehalose during hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury. Hypoxia-reoxygenation cell model was established by AML12 mouse hepatocyte line, and divided into experimental group and control group. The experimental group was divided into low dose group and high dose group according to the concentration of trehalose administrated. And the control group had no use of trehalose. The level of apoptosis was measured to study the effect of trehalose on apoptosis induced by hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury with flow cytometry. Western blot was utilized for detecting the levels of Caspase-3, Cleaved Caspase-3 and Bcl-2 protein to understand the molecular mechanisms of trehalose in apoptosis during hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury.Results:In vivo animal experiments showed that liver function and such inflammatory factors as ALT, AST, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-2 increased in ischemia-reperfusion group after hepatic ischemia-reperfusion ( P<0.05), and liver tissue became necrotic. After a treatment of trehalose, the levels of ALT, AST, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-2 were lower than those of normalsaline control group and the area of liver tissue necrosis also decreased ( P<0.05). In vitro cell experiments showed that the apoptosis level of hepatocytes in the experimental group decreased compared with the control group.And the level of activated pro-apoptotic protein Cleaved Caspase-3 decreased, the level of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 increased. Conclusions:Trehalose has protective effects on hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury in vivo and in vitro. The mechanism may be involved in inhibiting inflammation induced by hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury, suppressing the activation of Caspase-3 and promoting the expression of Bcl-2, thus played a protective role by extenuation of hepatocyteapoptosis.