1.Analysis of the application status of prescription pre-review systems in Yunnan province
Fan XU ; Wenjie YIN ; Kejia LI ; Zhengfu LI ; Jie CHEN ; Meixian WU ; Ruixiang CHEN ; Songmei LI ; Guowen ZHANG ; Te LI
China Pharmacy 2026;37(1):6-10
OBJECTIVE To investigate the application status of prescription pre-review systems in healthcare institutions of Yunnan province, evaluate their system functions and management capabilities, and provide a practical basis for promoting rational drug use. METHODS A questionnaire survey was conducted among public healthcare institutions at or above the secondary level in Yunnan province to investigate the deployment status of the systems. A capability maturity assessment framework was constructed, encompassing 6 dimensions and 39 indicators, including real-time prescription review, prescription correlation review, rule setting, evidence-based information support, prescription authority management, and system operation management. This framework was then used to evaluate the institutions that had implemented the pre-review systems. RESULTS A total of 100 valid questionnaires were collected, with 37 institutions having adopted prescription pre-review systems, mainly tertiary hospitals. The system predominantly adopted a modular architecture and was embedded into the hospital information system through application programming interfaces and middleware, providing certain capabilities for real-time prescription risk identification. Evaluation results indicated that basic functions such as reviewing indications, contraindications, and drug compatibility performed well, while deficiencies remained in functions related to parenteral nutrition prescription, review of drug dosage for specific diseases, individual patient characteristic recognition, and rule setting. Moreover, the construction of review centers and establishment of management systems were also not well-developed. CONCLUSIONS The overall application rate of prescription pre-review systems in Yunnan province remains low. System functions and management mechanisms require further improvement. It is recommended to enhance information infrastructure in lower-level institutions and explore regionally unified review models to promote standardized and intelligent development of prescription review practices.
2.Traditional Chinese Medicine Regulates Related Signaling Pathways to Prevent and Control Breast Cancer and Precancerous Lesions: A Review
Yifei ZENG ; Di ZHAO ; Junyue WANG ; Mengjie WANG ; Yubo GUO ; Yu ZHOU ; Dongxiao ZHANG ; Wenjie ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(5):290-301
Breast cancer has become the malignant tumor with the highest incidence rate among women, seriously threatening the life and health of women all over the world. The pathogenic factors and development mechanisms of breast cancer are complex and diverse. The development of breast cells from ordinary hyperplasia to atypical hyperplasia, and from pre-cancerous lesions to cancerous lesions, is a long-term progressive process. Therefore, early screening and prevention of breast cancer is particularly important. Western medicine has a relatively mature treatment program for breast cancer, which is mainly based on surgery and systemic treatment, whereas the ensuing complications and adverse reactions often bring a heavy burden to patients. For the precancerous lesions of breast cancer, surgery is also the mainstay of treatment. In recent years, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has increasingly highlighted its advantages in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer. Increasing studies have shown that in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer and pre-cancerous lesions, TCM compound prescriptions, single herbs or herb pairs, and active components are able to regulate a variety of intracellular signaling pathways through multi-targets to inhibit the proliferation and invasion, promote the apoptosis and autophagy of tumor cells, and regulate the cell cycle and the immune microenvironment, thus exerting anti-tumor effects. At the same time, they can significantly attenuate the toxic side effects of radiotherapy and drug resistance of patients. However, the specific mechanisms of TCM in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer and precancerous lesions have not been fully clarified. The available studies are tanglesome regarding the TCM inhibition of tumor development through the regulation of classical signaling pathways such as phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), Wnt/β-catenin, and Notch, which still need to be verified by a large number of clinical and experimental studies. Therefore, this paper reviews the research progress in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer and precancerous lesions by TCM through interfering with the relevant signaling pathways in recent years, aiming to summarize the possible mechanisms of TCM in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer and provide references for subsequent studies.
3.Mechanisms of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis Based on AMPK Signaling Pathway: A Review
Keqiu YAN ; Xiaoyu ZHANG ; Yifan CAI ; Wenjie XIAO ; Xinkun BAO ; Guangjun SUN ; Aizhen LIN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(7):341-351
Ulcerative colitis (UC), a chronic relapsing inflammatory bowel disease, involves multifaceted pathological mechanisms such as intestinal barrier dysfunction, immune dysregulation, and oxidative stress. Current therapeutic strategies remain limited in efficacy and safety. In recent years, the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway has emerged as a pivotal therapeutic target for UC due to its central role in energy metabolism, inflammatory regulation, and intestinal homeostasis. This article systematically reviewed the mechanisms by which traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prevented and treated UC through the regulation of the AMPK signaling pathway, with a focus on elucidating AMPK's multidimensional regulatory network in inflammatory signaling crosstalk, alleviating oxidative stress, restoring intestinal immune balance, repairing the intestinal barrier, and modulating gut microbiota. Leveraging its unique advantages of multi-target engagement and low toxicity, TCM demonstrates promising potential in UC treatment and has become a focal area of research. By systematically summarizing and synthesizing the existing literature on TCM-mediated AMPK pathway modulation in UC, this review aims to provide a theoretical foundation for advancing mechanistic research and clinical interventions in UC.
4.Mechanism and Clinical Research Progress of Puerarin in Treatment of Chronic Heart Failure
Wenjie LU ; Siqi ZHONG ; Lu ZHANG ; Wenting LIN ; Zhijun ZENG ; Shaohua WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(8):327-336
Chronic heart failure (CHF) is an end-stage cardiac syndrome driven by multiple factors. Its pathological process involves interactions of multiple pathways such as energy metabolism dysfunction, neuroendocrine dysregulation, and myocardial fibrosis. Although current clinical medicine can alleviate symptoms through single-target approaches, significant limitations in reversing cardiac remodeling and disease progression remain. Puerarin, a major bioactive isoflavone constituent derived from Pueraria lobata, exhibits multidimensional pharmacological effects, such as vasodilatory effects, regulation of neuroendocrine balance, enhancement of metabolic homeostasis, and suppression of myocardial apoptosis. This review systematically integrated puerarin's multi-target regulatory network, elucidating its mechanisms such as improving energy metabolism by AMP-activated protein kinase/mechanistic target of rapamycin (AMPK/mTOR) pathway, inhibiting fibrosis mediated by transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/Smad signals, and attenuating oxidative-inflammatory cascades by regulating nuclear factor erythroid 2 (E2)-related factor 2/nuclear transcription factor-κB(Nrf2/NF-κB) axis. Clinical research data was used to validate its efficacy in improving the left ventricular ejection function and reducing the therapeutic potential of cardiovascular events' risks. The study proposed that puerarin's "systemic regulation" characteristic breaks through the limitations of traditional single-target drugs and prospected its clinical translation pathway based on metabolomics and nano-delivery technology, offering an integrative perspective from molecular mechanisms to precise therapy for the research on modernization of traditional Chinese medicine.
5.Mechanism and Clinical Research Progress of Puerarin in Treatment of Chronic Heart Failure
Wenjie LU ; Siqi ZHONG ; Lu ZHANG ; Wenting LIN ; Zhijun ZENG ; Shaohua WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(8):327-336
Chronic heart failure (CHF) is an end-stage cardiac syndrome driven by multiple factors. Its pathological process involves interactions of multiple pathways such as energy metabolism dysfunction, neuroendocrine dysregulation, and myocardial fibrosis. Although current clinical medicine can alleviate symptoms through single-target approaches, significant limitations in reversing cardiac remodeling and disease progression remain. Puerarin, a major bioactive isoflavone constituent derived from Pueraria lobata, exhibits multidimensional pharmacological effects, such as vasodilatory effects, regulation of neuroendocrine balance, enhancement of metabolic homeostasis, and suppression of myocardial apoptosis. This review systematically integrated puerarin's multi-target regulatory network, elucidating its mechanisms such as improving energy metabolism by AMP-activated protein kinase/mechanistic target of rapamycin (AMPK/mTOR) pathway, inhibiting fibrosis mediated by transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/Smad signals, and attenuating oxidative-inflammatory cascades by regulating nuclear factor erythroid 2 (E2)-related factor 2/nuclear transcription factor-κB(Nrf2/NF-κB) axis. Clinical research data was used to validate its efficacy in improving the left ventricular ejection function and reducing the therapeutic potential of cardiovascular events' risks. The study proposed that puerarin's "systemic regulation" characteristic breaks through the limitations of traditional single-target drugs and prospected its clinical translation pathway based on metabolomics and nano-delivery technology, offering an integrative perspective from molecular mechanisms to precise therapy for the research on modernization of traditional Chinese medicine.
6.Changes in health status and management strategies for workers in a chemical enterprise under low-level multiple occupational exposure
Xueting WANG ; Jiming ZHANG ; Yulai TIAN ; Zhiping DUAN ; Wenjie LI ; Chaoye SHEN ; Dasheng LU ; Zhijun ZHOU
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2026;43(6):693-701
Background Long-term occupational health surveillance facilitates the identification of chronic health risks arising from occupational hazard exposures. However, under low-level exposure conditions in chemical enterprises, traditional workplace-centered risk assessment models are insufficient to fully explain the observed health effects among workers, highlighting the need for individual-focused health management strategies that focus on the worker. Objective To characterize long-term health trends among workers in a chemical enterprise and examine the limitations of workplace hazard monitoring and health surveillance under low-level multiple exposure scenarios, thereby providing a scientific basis for more comprehensive worker health protection measures. Methods We analyzed 972 occupational health examination records collected over a 15-year period (2010–2024) from a chemical enterprise, integrating these with enterprise hazard monitoring reports and workshop air monitoring of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The annual counts and prevalences of abnormalities in liver function tests, metabolic syndrome-related indicators, and liver imaging were summarized. Temporal trends were evaluated using the Cochran-Armitage trend test. Time-related changes in abnormal health indicators among active workers were evaluated by generalized linear mixed-effects models (GLMMs), adjusting for age and sex. Individual longitudinal profiles were described for nine workers with continuous 15-year records. In addition, paired comparisons of health outcomes were conducted for 81 workers with both pre-employment and periodic examinations. Results Workplace hazard monitoring indicated that airborne concentrations of major occupational contaminants including VOCs, acids and bases, dust, and physical factors were below national occupational exposure limits. However, 62 VOC species—including chlorobenzene, chloromethane, and cyclohexane—were detected in workshop air, suggesting complex mixed organic solvent exposure. From 2010 to 2015, occupational health examination records were primarily based on physicians’ qualitative assessment, yielding generally low abnormality detection rates. During 2016–2024, data collection was complete, and the prevalences of abnormalities in liver function, metabolic syndrome-related indicators, and liver imaging among active workers remained relatively high. Trend analysis indicated that only the abnormality rates of total bilirubin (TBIL) and hypertension showed statistically significant temporal trends; other indicators exhibited no significant linear changes despite high prevalences. After adjusting for age and sex, the GLMMs showed that the abnormality rates of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), TBIL, and hypertension decreased over time, whereas those of total cholesterol, triglycerides, and fatty liver increased. In a subgroup of 9 workers with continuous 15-year follow-up data, the cumulative number of abnormal health indicators increased in several individuals after 2016. Among the 81 workers with both pre-employment and periodic records, abnormalities in total cholesterol, triglycerides, body mass index, and fatty liver were significantly more prevalent after employment over time, whereas changes in liver function enzymes were not statistically significant. Conclusion With increasing age, workers exhibit a gradual deterioration in liver function and metabolic-related health indicators, reaching abnormality rates comparable to those reported in the general population. These findings suggest that both workplace-related and non-occupational factors jointly contribute to the observed health changes. Consequently, occupational health management should shift towards an "individual-centered" approach. Enhancing workers' health literacy, strengthening workplace health promotion, and extending occupational health services beyond the workplace are essential to comprehensively protect workers' health.
7.Analysis of current situation and countermeasures of sex education in special education schools in Luzhou
Chinese Journal of School Health 2025;46(6):802-805
Objective:
To analyze the implementation status and challenges of sex education in special education schools, so as to provide a scientific basis for formulating effective promotion strategies.
Methods:
From November 2023 to January 2024, a census survey was conducted among 120 in service teachers from 7 special education schools in Luzhou. The questionnaire covered the current status of sex education in schools, teachers attitudes and knowledge toward sex education, and their coping methods for students inappropriate sexual behaviors.
Results:
About 77.5% of teachers reported having provided sex education to students, but 93.2% indicated a lack of specialized sex education textbooks for special children, 90.4% reported no full time teachers for sex education, and the methods of sex education were relatively limited (50.0% mainly based on lecture method). Nearly 95.8% of teachers held a positive attitude toward sex education, with 98.3% supporting its implementation. Only 26.7% of teachers demonstrated a good grasp of sex education knowledge, with the best understood topic being "recognition and protection of private parts" (21.6%). When dealing with students inappropriate sexual behaviors, the active response rate of teachers was 23.9%, with the highest active response rate observed for "intentionally hugging or kissing the opposite sex" (39.7%).
Conclusions
The special education schools in Luzhou lack comprehensive sex education curricula, teaching materials and full time teachers, sufficient knowledge among teachers, and adequate proactive responses to students inappropriate sexual behaviors. Greater emphasis should be placed on sex education for special children, including the training of dedicated teachers, to provide comprehensive and high quality sex education services for special children.
8.Cuscutae Semen-Lycii Fructus Improves Spermatogenesis in Rat Model of Oligoasthenozoospermia by Inhibiting Oxidative Stress-induced Blood-testis Barrier Damage via Regulating SIRT1/Nrf2 Signaling Pathway
Wen DUAN ; Xiaojing ZHANG ; Wenjie DING ; Jianning JIN ; Guoqing CHU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(17):29-38
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of the herb pair Cuscutae Semen-Lycii Fructus on oxidative stress-induced blood-testis barrier dysfunction and spermatogenesis in the rat model of oligoasthenozoospermia (OAS) and decipher the mechanism based on the silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1)/nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway. MethodsThirty-five male SD rats were randomized into a blank group (n=7) and a modeling group (n=28). The OAS model was established by gavage of hydrocortisone aqueous solution combined with single factor electrical stimulation. The modeled rats were randomly assigned into the following groups: model, Cuscutae Semen-Lycii Fructus granules (3.2 g·kg-1), Cuscutae Semen-Lycii Fructus total flavonoids (0.34 g·kg-1), and L-carnitine (0.38 g·kg-1), and treated for 4 weeks. The sperm quality of rats was assessed by an automatic sperm analyzer. The levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MAD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in the testicular tissue were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was employed to reveal the pathological changes in the testicular tissue and score the spermatogenic function. Transmission electron microscopy was employed to observe the ultrastructural changes of Sertoli cells. Western blot and Real-time PCR were employed to determine the protein and mRNA levels, respectively, of SIRT1, Nrf2, Occludin, zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), connexin 43 (CX43), and β-catenin. ResultsCompared with the blank group, the model group showed decreased total sperm count and motility (P<0.05, P<0.01), obvious damage in the testicular tissue and blood-testis barrier structure, reduced score of spermatogenic function (P<0.01), declined levels of GSH-Px and SOD in the testicular tissue (P<0.05), elevated level of MDA, and down-regulated protein levels of SIRT1, Nrf2, ZO-1, CX43, β-catenin, and occludin (P<0.05, P<0.01) and mRNA levels of SIRT1, Nrf2, ZO-1, CX43, and β-catenin in the testicular tissue (P<0.05, P<0.01). After treatment, the testicular tissue, blood-testis barrier structure, and score of spermatogenic function (P<0.01) were improved in the Cuscutae Semen-Lycii Fructus granules group, Cuscutae Semen-Lycii Fructus total flavonoids group, and L-carnitine group. Compared with the model group, the treatment groups presented lowered levels of GSH-Px and SOD (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the Cuscutae Semen-Lycii Fructus granule group showed a decline in MDA level. The protein and mRNA levels of SIRT1, Nrf2, ZO-1, CX43, β-catenin, and occludin were up-regulated in the Cuscutae Semen-Lycii Fructus granules group and total flavonoids group (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionThe herb pair Cuscutae Semen-Lycii Fructus can regulate the SIRT1/Nrf2 pathway to inhibit oxidative stress and alleviate the blood-testis barrier damage, thereby improving the spermatogenic function in the rat model of OAS. Total flavonoids may be the material basis for the therapeutic effect of Cuscutae Semen-Lycii Fructus.
9.Cuscutae Semen-Lycii Fructus Improves Spermatogenesis in Rat Model of Oligoasthenozoospermia by Inhibiting Oxidative Stress-induced Blood-testis Barrier Damage via Regulating SIRT1/Nrf2 Signaling Pathway
Wen DUAN ; Xiaojing ZHANG ; Wenjie DING ; Jianning JIN ; Guoqing CHU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(17):29-38
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of the herb pair Cuscutae Semen-Lycii Fructus on oxidative stress-induced blood-testis barrier dysfunction and spermatogenesis in the rat model of oligoasthenozoospermia (OAS) and decipher the mechanism based on the silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1)/nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway. MethodsThirty-five male SD rats were randomized into a blank group (n=7) and a modeling group (n=28). The OAS model was established by gavage of hydrocortisone aqueous solution combined with single factor electrical stimulation. The modeled rats were randomly assigned into the following groups: model, Cuscutae Semen-Lycii Fructus granules (3.2 g·kg-1), Cuscutae Semen-Lycii Fructus total flavonoids (0.34 g·kg-1), and L-carnitine (0.38 g·kg-1), and treated for 4 weeks. The sperm quality of rats was assessed by an automatic sperm analyzer. The levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MAD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in the testicular tissue were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was employed to reveal the pathological changes in the testicular tissue and score the spermatogenic function. Transmission electron microscopy was employed to observe the ultrastructural changes of Sertoli cells. Western blot and Real-time PCR were employed to determine the protein and mRNA levels, respectively, of SIRT1, Nrf2, Occludin, zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), connexin 43 (CX43), and β-catenin. ResultsCompared with the blank group, the model group showed decreased total sperm count and motility (P<0.05, P<0.01), obvious damage in the testicular tissue and blood-testis barrier structure, reduced score of spermatogenic function (P<0.01), declined levels of GSH-Px and SOD in the testicular tissue (P<0.05), elevated level of MDA, and down-regulated protein levels of SIRT1, Nrf2, ZO-1, CX43, β-catenin, and occludin (P<0.05, P<0.01) and mRNA levels of SIRT1, Nrf2, ZO-1, CX43, and β-catenin in the testicular tissue (P<0.05, P<0.01). After treatment, the testicular tissue, blood-testis barrier structure, and score of spermatogenic function (P<0.01) were improved in the Cuscutae Semen-Lycii Fructus granules group, Cuscutae Semen-Lycii Fructus total flavonoids group, and L-carnitine group. Compared with the model group, the treatment groups presented lowered levels of GSH-Px and SOD (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the Cuscutae Semen-Lycii Fructus granule group showed a decline in MDA level. The protein and mRNA levels of SIRT1, Nrf2, ZO-1, CX43, β-catenin, and occludin were up-regulated in the Cuscutae Semen-Lycii Fructus granules group and total flavonoids group (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionThe herb pair Cuscutae Semen-Lycii Fructus can regulate the SIRT1/Nrf2 pathway to inhibit oxidative stress and alleviate the blood-testis barrier damage, thereby improving the spermatogenic function in the rat model of OAS. Total flavonoids may be the material basis for the therapeutic effect of Cuscutae Semen-Lycii Fructus.
10.Clinical Application and Pharmacological Mechanism of Sishenwan in Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis: A Review
Keqiu YAN ; Xiaoyu ZHANG ; Sifeng JIA ; Yuyu DUAN ; Zixing QIAN ; Yifan CAI ; Junyi SHEN ; Wenjie XIAO ; Xinkun BAO ; Guangjun SUN ; Aizhen LIN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(21):261-270
Ulcerative colitis (UC), a chronic, non-specific inflammatory bowel disease with typical symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and bloody stools, demonstrates a high relapse rate and difficulty in curing. Sishenwan, first recorded in Internal Medicine Abstract (Nei Ke Zhai Yao), are a classic prescription for treating diarrhea caused by deficiency of the spleen and kidney Yang. The core therapeutic principle of Sishenwan is warming and tonifying the spleen and kidney, and astringing the intestine and stopping diarrhea. In recent years, Sishenwan have demonstrated distinct advantages in the clinical treatment of UC. The pathogenesis of UC involves multiple factors, including immune dysregulation and gut microbiota imbalance. Although Western medicine is effective in the short term, its side effects, high relapse rate, and resistance associated with long-term use pose substantial challenges. Sishenwan have shown excellent clinical outcomes in the treatment of UC due to deficiency of the spleen and kidney Yang. Modern clinical studies indicate that Sishenwan, used alone or in combination with Western medicine or other Chinese medicine compound prescriptions, significantly improve the clinical efficacy in treating UC due to deficiency of the spleen and kidney Yang. Sishenwan effectively alleviate core symptoms such as mucus, pus, and blood in stools, and persistent abdominal pain, reduce Mayo scores and the relapse rate, and improve patients' quality of life. Research on the material basis reveals that Sishenwan contain multiple active ingredients such as psoralen, isopsoralen, and evodiamine. Mechanism studies indicate that Sishenwan inhibit the inflammatory cascade reactions by regulating the signal network through multiple targets. Sishenwan regulate cellular immunity and restore intestinal immune homeostasis. At the microecological level, Sishenwan promote the intestinal barrier repair through the "microbiota-metabolism-immunity" axis. The current research still needs to be deepened in aspects such as the mining of specific biomarkers for syndromes and the exploration of the collaborative mechanism of traditional Chinese and Western medicine. In the future, a full-chain system covering syndrome differentiation, targeting, and monitoring needs to be constructed for promoting the paradigm transformation of Sishenwan into precision drugs. This review systematically explains the treatment mechanism of Sishenwan regarding the combination of disease and syndrome and its multi-target regulatory characteristics, providing a theoretical basis and transformation direction for the treatment of UC with integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine.


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