1.Inheritance and Current Research Status of Major Spleen-Stomach Theories in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Ling HU ; Fengyun WANG ; Xudong TANG ; Beihua ZHANG ; Yunkai DAI ; Xu CHEN ; Shiqi LI
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(1):87-94
This paper systematically reviews the core concepts and lines of theoretical inheritance of major spleen-stomach theories in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), including spleen deficiency theory, spleen-stomach damp-heat theory, and liver-spleen disharmony theory. It is found that these theories have all undergone a developmental trajectory characterized by classical foundation, refinement of therapeutic methods, systematization of pathogenesis, and modern innovation. The evolution of spleen-stomach theory has achieved a shift from a singular focus on tonifying the spleen to regulating dynamic middle-jiao (焦) balance, and from localized spleen-stomach regulation to the circular movement of qi involving all five zang organs. In terms of modern disease-syndrome integrative research, spleen deficiency syndrome is shown to be closely associated with impairment of the gastrointestinal mucosal barrier, metabolic disorders, and gene polymorphisms related to Helicobacter pylori-associated gastric diseases. Spleen-stomach damp-heat syndrome is closely linked to hyperactive energy metabolism, inflammatory cytokines, and abnormal expression of aquaporins. Liver-spleen disharmony syndrome is mainly associated with dysregulation of the brain-gut axis and microbiota-related metabolic disorders. It is proposed that future research on spleen-stomach diseases and syndromes should further elucidate their potential multidimensional differential biological characteristics, thereby promoting the modernization of the TCM discipline of spleen-stomach studies.
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.Research Advances of Traditional Chinese Medicine Diagnosis and Treatment of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease:Overview and Prospects
Liang DAI ; Guang JI ; Xianbo WANG ; Li ZHANG ; Hanchen XU ; Xudong TANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(4):386-391
The pathogenesis of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is fundamentally rooted in spleen deficiency and is closely associated with phlegm turbidity, damp-heat and blood stasis. Clinically, liver constraint with spleen deficiency and internal retention of damp turbidity represent the predominant traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome patterns. Researches have indicated intrinsic connections between the syndrome patterns and biological indicators such as gut microbiota and metabolic profiles. Regarding treatment, classical famous formulas, modern empirical formulas, and newly developed TCM drugs show positive effects in regulating glucose and lipid metabolism, improving insulin resistance, and alleviating metabolic inflammation, exhibiting multi-target mechanisms of action; acupuncture and other external therapies also provide adjunctive value. Nevertheless, current researches still have limitations such as the lack of high-quality clinical evidence and insufficient systematic elucidation of the uncerlying mechanisms. Future efforts should focus on conducting high-quality TCM clinical trials with hard endpoint outcomes such as hepatic histology outcomes, and utilizing modern technologies like multi-omics to elucidate TCM's mechanisms of action, thereby advancing the position of TCM as a first-line therapeutic strategy for MASLD.
4.Overview of Diagnosis,Treatment and Mechanism Research of Functional Dyspepsia by Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine
Shengsheng ZHANG ; Zhaohong SHI ; Xiaofang LU ; Luqing ZHAO ; Danyan LI ; Shu ZHANG ; Lu ZHAO ; Yudi ZHUO ; Nian WANG ; Fan LIU ; Shuangyi LI ; Xudong TANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(4):397-403
Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a prioritized disease category where traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) demonstrates distinct therapeutic advantages. The current western medicine treatment for FD is mainly based on proton pump inhibitors and prokinetic agents, with digestive enzymes, probiotics and antidepressants serving as adjuvant medication, yet such therapies still have certain limitations. TCM treatment for FD includes oral administration of Chinese herbal formulas and Chinese patent medicines, as well as external TCM therapies such as acupuncture and moxibustion, acupoint application, hot medicinal compress therapy, rubbing with ointment, medicinal iontophoresis, auricular acupoint therapy and tui na (Chinese medical massage). The combined treatment of FD with integrated TCM and western medicine can significantly improve clinical effectiveness and reduce adverse reactions. The common mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of both TCM and western medicine revolve around the core pathological processes of FD, mainly focusing on restoring gastrointestinal motility, regulating the levels of brain-gut peptides, modulating intestinal microecology, and ameliorating inflammatory status. The differential mechanisms lie in the precise targeting feature of western medicine versus the holistic-regulating and multi-target characteristics of TCM, and the two approaches exert a synergistic effect to enhance efficacy. This paper proposes to leverage the advantages of TCM in holistic regulation and the strengths of western medicine in targeted treatment, so as to provide personalized and comprehensive treatment regimens for FD patients.
5.Current Status,Strategies and Prospects of Traditional Chinese Medicine Diagnosis and Treatment for Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Yandong WEN ; Zhi YANG ; Shaogang HUANG ; Zhongyu LI ; Xiangxue MA ; Qing XU ; Liqing DU ; Bochao YUAN ; Yibing TIAN ; Wentong GE ; Xiaofan ZHAO ; Chang LIU ; Xudong TANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(4):404-409
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional bowel disorder characterized primarily by abdominal pain and altered defecation habits. In recent years, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has made progress in multiple aspects of IBS research and treatment, including syndrome distribution, development of TCM formulas, clinical efficacy evaluation, external therapies, and psychosocial regulation. However, it still faces challenges such as over-reliance on symptomatic manifestations rather than biomarkers for diagnostic criteria, and the lack of high-quality evidence-based data supporting the efficacy of TCM formulas in treating IBS. This paper proposed that TCM diagnosis and treatment of IBS should adhere to the strategy of integrating the holistic concept with syndrome differentiation and treatment, combining TCM external therapies such as acupuncture, moxibustion and acupoint application), and emphasizing individualized diagnosis and treatment for psychosomatic abnormalities. Future research should integrate multi-omics technologies, artificial intelligence and other methods to deepen the understanding of the pathogenesis of IBS and the mechanisms of TCM formulas, so as to promote the standardization and internationalization of TCM in the diagnosis and treatment of IBS.
6.Development of Electrospinning Setup for Vascular Tissue-Engineering Application with Thick-Hierarchical Fiber Alignment
Shen CHEN ; Chao XIE ; Xiaoxi LONG ; Xianwei WANG ; Xudong LI ; Peng LIU ; Jiabin LIU ; Zuyong WANG
Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine 2025;22(2):195-210
BACKGROUND:
Tissue engineering holds promise for vascular repair and regeneration by mimicking the extracellular matrix of blood vessels. However, achieving a functional and thick vascular wall with aligned fiber architecture by electrospinning remains a significant challenge.
METHODS:
A novel electrospinning setup was developed that utilizes an auxiliary electrode and a spring. The impact of process parameters on fiber size and morphology was investigated. The structure and functions of the scaffolds were evaluated through material characterization and assessments of cellular biocompatibility.
RESULTS:
The new setup enabled controlled deposition of fibers in different designed orientations. The fabricated small-diameter vascular scaffolds consisted of an inner layer of longitudinally oriented fibers and an outer layer of circumferentially oriented fibers (L + C vascular scaffold). Key parameters, including rotational speed, the utilization of the auxiliary electrode, and top-to-collector distance (TCD) significantly influenced fiber orientation. Additionally, voltage, TCD, feed rate, needle size, auxiliary electrode and collector-auxiliary electrode distance affected fiber diameter and distribution. Mechanical advantages and improved surface wettability of L + C vascular scaffold were confirmed through tensile testing and water contact angle. Cellular experiments indicated that L + C vascular scaffold facilitated cell adhesion and proliferation, with human umbilical vein endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells attaching and elongating along the fiber direction of the inner and outer layer, respectively.
CONCLUSION
This study demonstrated the feasibility of fabricating fiber-aligned, thick-walled vascular scaffolds using a modified electrospinning setup. The findings provided insights into how the auxiliary electrode, specific collector influenced fiber deposition, potentially advancing biomimetic vascular scaffold engineering.
7.Advances in the diagnosis and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with bile duct tumor thrombus
Yuxiang GUO ; Maosen WANG ; Zhongyuan LIU ; Xudong ZHANG ; Pengfei MA ; Xiangkun WANG ; Renfeng LI
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(2):359-364
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with biliary duct tumor thrombus (BDTT) is currently not common in clinical practice and is easily misdiagnosed, and previously, it was often considered an advanced stage of the disease with a poor prognosis, making its treatment challenging. However, in-depth studies in recent years have gradually deepened our understanding of this disease, leading to significant changes in diagnostic and treatment concepts. Currently, comprehensive treatment, mainly surgery, is used for treatment, but there is still controversy over the selection of clinical treatment strategies. This article provides a detailed discussion on surgical methods and prognosis, in order to provide a reference for clinical treatment options.
8.Development of Electrospinning Setup for Vascular Tissue-Engineering Application with Thick-Hierarchical Fiber Alignment
Shen CHEN ; Chao XIE ; Xiaoxi LONG ; Xianwei WANG ; Xudong LI ; Peng LIU ; Jiabin LIU ; Zuyong WANG
Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine 2025;22(2):195-210
BACKGROUND:
Tissue engineering holds promise for vascular repair and regeneration by mimicking the extracellular matrix of blood vessels. However, achieving a functional and thick vascular wall with aligned fiber architecture by electrospinning remains a significant challenge.
METHODS:
A novel electrospinning setup was developed that utilizes an auxiliary electrode and a spring. The impact of process parameters on fiber size and morphology was investigated. The structure and functions of the scaffolds were evaluated through material characterization and assessments of cellular biocompatibility.
RESULTS:
The new setup enabled controlled deposition of fibers in different designed orientations. The fabricated small-diameter vascular scaffolds consisted of an inner layer of longitudinally oriented fibers and an outer layer of circumferentially oriented fibers (L + C vascular scaffold). Key parameters, including rotational speed, the utilization of the auxiliary electrode, and top-to-collector distance (TCD) significantly influenced fiber orientation. Additionally, voltage, TCD, feed rate, needle size, auxiliary electrode and collector-auxiliary electrode distance affected fiber diameter and distribution. Mechanical advantages and improved surface wettability of L + C vascular scaffold were confirmed through tensile testing and water contact angle. Cellular experiments indicated that L + C vascular scaffold facilitated cell adhesion and proliferation, with human umbilical vein endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells attaching and elongating along the fiber direction of the inner and outer layer, respectively.
CONCLUSION
This study demonstrated the feasibility of fabricating fiber-aligned, thick-walled vascular scaffolds using a modified electrospinning setup. The findings provided insights into how the auxiliary electrode, specific collector influenced fiber deposition, potentially advancing biomimetic vascular scaffold engineering.
9.Improvement effect of metformin on liver injury in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis rats
Shuang WU ; Hailin CHENG ; Dan LIU ; Ting XIAO ; Xingbang WU ; Huadong LI ; Xudong HU
China Pharmacy 2025;36(7):837-842
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of metformin (Met) on liver injury in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) rats by regulating the PI3K/AKT/PDGF signaling pathway. METHODS NASH model was constructed by feeding rats with a high- glucose and high-fat diet, and assigned into Model group, Met low-dose group (Met-L group, 100 mg/kg), Met medium-dose group (Met-M group, 200 mg/kg), Met high-dose group (Met-H group, 400 mg/kg), and high dose of Met+PI3K activator group (Met-H+740 Y-P group, 400 mg/kg Met+50 mg/kg 740 Y-P), with 12 rats in each group. Another 12 rats were regarded as the Control group. Each group of rats was orally administered/injected with the corresponding medication once a day for 6 consecutive weeks. The changes in body weight and liver index of rats were recorded and analyzed. The pathological damage [evaluation of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease activity score (NAS)], lipid deposition (calculation of the proportion of oil red O-positive staining area), and fibrosis (calculation of collagen deposition score) were observed in liver tissue of rats. The levels of inflammatory factors [interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)] in serum and liver tissue, the levels of serum lipid metabolism indicators [total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)] and liver function indicators [aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine Δ 基金项目 武汉市知识创新专项项目(No.2022020801010588); aminotransferase (ALT)] were measured. The expression levels of PI3K/AKT/PDGF signaling pathway-related proteins and Caspase-3 in liver tissue of rats were determined. RESULTS Compared with the Control group, body weight, liver index, the levels of serum lipid metabolism indicators and liver function indicators, the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in serum and liver tissue, the NAS, the proportion of oil red O-positive staining area, the collagen deposition fraction, and the levels of phosphorylated PI3K and AKT proteins, as well as the expression levels of PDGF and Caspase-3 proteins in liver tissue, were all significantly increased (P<0.05). The liver tissue showed severe pathological damage, characterized by an abundance of lipid droplets and pronounced collagen deposition. After the intervention with Met, the aforementioned quantitative indicators and pathological changes in rats were significantly improved in a dose- dependent manner (P<0.05). 740 Y-P could reverse the improvement effects of high dose of Met on the above indexes of rats (P< 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Met can improve liver damage, and alleviate inflammatory reactions and liver fibrosis of NASH rats, the mechanism of which may be associated with inhibiting PI3K/AKT/PDGF signaling pathway.
10.Development of Electrospinning Setup for Vascular Tissue-Engineering Application with Thick-Hierarchical Fiber Alignment
Shen CHEN ; Chao XIE ; Xiaoxi LONG ; Xianwei WANG ; Xudong LI ; Peng LIU ; Jiabin LIU ; Zuyong WANG
Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine 2025;22(2):195-210
BACKGROUND:
Tissue engineering holds promise for vascular repair and regeneration by mimicking the extracellular matrix of blood vessels. However, achieving a functional and thick vascular wall with aligned fiber architecture by electrospinning remains a significant challenge.
METHODS:
A novel electrospinning setup was developed that utilizes an auxiliary electrode and a spring. The impact of process parameters on fiber size and morphology was investigated. The structure and functions of the scaffolds were evaluated through material characterization and assessments of cellular biocompatibility.
RESULTS:
The new setup enabled controlled deposition of fibers in different designed orientations. The fabricated small-diameter vascular scaffolds consisted of an inner layer of longitudinally oriented fibers and an outer layer of circumferentially oriented fibers (L + C vascular scaffold). Key parameters, including rotational speed, the utilization of the auxiliary electrode, and top-to-collector distance (TCD) significantly influenced fiber orientation. Additionally, voltage, TCD, feed rate, needle size, auxiliary electrode and collector-auxiliary electrode distance affected fiber diameter and distribution. Mechanical advantages and improved surface wettability of L + C vascular scaffold were confirmed through tensile testing and water contact angle. Cellular experiments indicated that L + C vascular scaffold facilitated cell adhesion and proliferation, with human umbilical vein endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells attaching and elongating along the fiber direction of the inner and outer layer, respectively.
CONCLUSION
This study demonstrated the feasibility of fabricating fiber-aligned, thick-walled vascular scaffolds using a modified electrospinning setup. The findings provided insights into how the auxiliary electrode, specific collector influenced fiber deposition, potentially advancing biomimetic vascular scaffold engineering.

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