1.Effect of Berberine-Baicalin Combination on Fecal Microbiota Transplantation-induced Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Due to Internal Accumulation of Dampness-heat in Mice from Perspectives of Gut Microbiota and Metabolomics
Mengjie CHEN ; Yimin LIU ; Yun ZHOU ; Keming YU ; Min XIA ; Hongning LIU ; Yanhua JI ; Zhijun ZENG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(5):52-64
ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanisms by which the combination of berberine (BBR) and baicalin (BAI) ameliorates type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) due to internal accumulation of dampness-heat from the perspectives of gut microbiota and metabolomics. MethodsAntibiotics were used to induce pseudo-sterile mice. Thirty pseudo-sterile mice were randomized into a normal fecal microbiota transplantation group (n=10) and a T2DM (syndrome of internal accumulation of dampness-heat) fecal microbiota transplantation group (n=20). The mice were then administrated with suspensions of fecal microbiota from healthy volunteers and a patient with T2DM due to internal accumulation of dampness-heat by gavage, respectively. Each mouse received 200 µL suspension every other day for a total of 15 times to reshape the gut microbiota. The T2DM model mice were then assigned into a model group (n=8) and a BBR-BAI group (n=11). BBR was administrated at a dose of 200 mg·kg-1, and BAI was administrated in a ratio of BBR-BAI 10∶1 based on preliminary research findings. The administration lasted for 8 consecutive weeks. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), insulin (INS), triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (CHOL), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were measured to evaluate the effects of the BBR-BAI combination on glucose and lipid metabolism and liver function in T2DM mice. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was employed to observe pathological changes in the colon tissue. The expression of claudin-1, zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), and occludin in the colon tissue was determined by Western blot. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(Real-time PCR) was employed to assess the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the colon tissue. The fecal microbiota composition and differential metabolites were analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS), respectively. ResultsThe BBR-BAI combination lowered the FBG, HbA1c, and INS levels (P<0.05, P<0.01) and alleviated insulin resistance (P<0.01) in T2DM mice. Additionally, BBR-BAI elevated the levels of ZO-1, occludin, and claudin-1 (P<0.05, P<0.01) and down-regulated the expression levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in the colon (P<0.05, P<0.01). The results of 16S rRNA sequencing showed that BBR-BAI increased the relative abundance of Ligilactobacillus, Phascolarctobacterium, and Akkermansia (P<0.05), while significantly decreasing the relative abundance of Alistipes, Odoribacter, and Colidextribacter (P<0.05). UPLC-Q-TOF-MS identified 28 differential metabolites, which were primarily involved in arachidonic acid metabolism and α-linolenic acid metabolism. ConclusionBBR-BAI can ameliorate T2DM due to internal accumulation of dampness-heat by modulating the relative abundance of various bacterial genera in the gut microbiota and the expression of fecal metabolites.
2.Reevaluation of systematic evluation of Xianling gubao capsules for knee osteoarthritis
Dongdong CAO ; Jixin CHEN ; Weijie YU ; Tianci GUO ; Yu ZHANG ; Puyu NIU ; Aifeng LIU
China Pharmacy 2025;36(2):232-238
OBJECTIVE To conduct a reevaluation of the systematic review (SR)/meta-analysis on the use of Xianling gubao capsules (XLGBC) for knee osteoarthritis (KOA), and provide evidence-based support for the clinical use of the drugs. METHODS Computerized searches including CNKI, Wanfang Data, VIP, China Biomedical Literature Database, the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase and Web of Science were conducted to collect systematic reviews (SR) or meta-analyses of XLGBC for the treatment of KOA from the inception to May 31st, 2024. The report quality, methodological quality, risk of bias and evidence quality were assessed using the PRISMA 2020 statement, AMSTAR 2 scale, ROBIS tool and GRADE tool, respectively. A comprehensive quality analysis of the quantitative results from the SR/meta-analysis was also performed. RESULTS A total of five SR/meta-analyses were included. The evaluation results based on the PRISMA 2020 statement showed that one study report was relatively complete (21 points), while four studies had deficiencies (18-20 points). The assessment using the AMSTAR 2 scale indicated that the methodological quality of all five studies was rated as very low. According to the ROBIS tool evaluation, the risk of comprehensive bias in all five studies was classified as high. GRADE tool evaluation revealed that among 49 outcome indicators, 5 (10.2%) were rated as moderate-quality evidence (10.2%), 12 as low-quality evidence (24.5%), and 32 as very low-quality evidence (65.3%). The results of comprehensive quality analysis showed that the clinical efficacy, visual analogue scale score, pain relief time, comprehensive indexes of knee joint function, the levels of inflammatory factors and the incidence of adverse events in patients with XLGBC combined with conventional treatment were significantly better than conventional treatment alone (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Compared with conventional treatment, XLGBC in combination with conventional treatment for KOA may have some efficacy and safety advantages. However, due to the low quality of evidence for the outcome indicators included in the studies, the conclusions should be interpreted with caution.
3.Reevaluation of systematic evluation of Xianling gubao capsules for knee osteoarthritis
Dongdong CAO ; Jixin CHEN ; Weijie YU ; Tianci GUO ; Yu ZHANG ; Puyu NIU ; Aifeng LIU
China Pharmacy 2025;36(2):232-238
OBJECTIVE To conduct a reevaluation of the systematic review (SR)/meta-analysis on the use of Xianling gubao capsules (XLGBC) for knee osteoarthritis (KOA), and provide evidence-based support for the clinical use of the drugs. METHODS Computerized searches including CNKI, Wanfang Data, VIP, China Biomedical Literature Database, the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase and Web of Science were conducted to collect systematic reviews (SR) or meta-analyses of XLGBC for the treatment of KOA from the inception to May 31st, 2024. The report quality, methodological quality, risk of bias and evidence quality were assessed using the PRISMA 2020 statement, AMSTAR 2 scale, ROBIS tool and GRADE tool, respectively. A comprehensive quality analysis of the quantitative results from the SR/meta-analysis was also performed. RESULTS A total of five SR/meta-analyses were included. The evaluation results based on the PRISMA 2020 statement showed that one study report was relatively complete (21 points), while four studies had deficiencies (18-20 points). The assessment using the AMSTAR 2 scale indicated that the methodological quality of all five studies was rated as very low. According to the ROBIS tool evaluation, the risk of comprehensive bias in all five studies was classified as high. GRADE tool evaluation revealed that among 49 outcome indicators, 5 (10.2%) were rated as moderate-quality evidence (10.2%), 12 as low-quality evidence (24.5%), and 32 as very low-quality evidence (65.3%). The results of comprehensive quality analysis showed that the clinical efficacy, visual analogue scale score, pain relief time, comprehensive indexes of knee joint function, the levels of inflammatory factors and the incidence of adverse events in patients with XLGBC combined with conventional treatment were significantly better than conventional treatment alone (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Compared with conventional treatment, XLGBC in combination with conventional treatment for KOA may have some efficacy and safety advantages. However, due to the low quality of evidence for the outcome indicators included in the studies, the conclusions should be interpreted with caution.
4.Mechanism of Paeoniae Radix Rubra and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata in Treatment of Acute-on-chronic Liver Failure Based on Bioinformation Analysis and Experimental Validation
Xiaoling TIAN ; Yu ZHANG ; Shan DU ; Mengsi WU ; Nianhua TAN ; Bin CHEN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(1):156-165
ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism of action of Paeoniae Radix Rubra and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata (CSFZ) in the treatment of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) through network pharmacology, molecular docking, and animal experiments. MethodsNetwork pharmacology was used to identify potential targets and related signaling pathways for the treatment of ACLF with CSFZ. Molecular docking was used to examine the binding activity of the core components with corresponding key targets. An ACLF rat model was established by subcutaneous and tail vein injections of bovine serum albumin combined with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) + D-galactosamine (D-GalN) intraperitoneal injection. A normal control group (NC), a model group, a CSFZ group (CSFZ, 5.85 g·kg-1), and a hepatocyte growth-promoting granule group (HGFG, 4.05 g·kg-1) were set up in this study. Pathological changes in rat liver tissue were observed using hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and Masson staining. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the expression levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Caspase-3, and albumin (ALB). Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) and Western blot were used to measure the mRNA and protein expression levels of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (Akt), phosphorylated PI3K (p-PI3K), and phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt). ResultsNetwork pharmacology screening identified 49 active ingredients of CSFZ, 103 action targets, and 3 317 targets related to ACLF. Among these, 74 targets overlapped with CSFZ drug targets. Key nodes in the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network included Akt1, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), IL-6, Bcl-2, and Caspase-3. Gene Ontology (GO) functional analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis identified multiple signaling pathways, with the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway being the most frequent. Molecular docking showed that the core components of the drug exhibited good binding activity with the corresponding key targets. Animal experiments confirmed that CSFZ significantly improved liver tissue pathological damage in ACLF rats, reduced the release of inflammatory factors and liver cell apoptosis, and upregulated the expression levels of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. ConclusionThrough network pharmacology, molecular docking, and in vivo experiments, this study confirms the effect of CSFZ in reducing liver cell inflammatory damage and inhibiting liver cell apoptosis. The specific mechanism may be related to its involvement in regulating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.
5.Analysis of factors influencing patient satisfaction in the outpatient pharmacy of maternity and child specialist hospitals in Chongqing
Ye DING ; Mengdi YU ; Yingwu SHI ; Yanqiu CHEN ; Jun YANG
China Pharmacy 2025;36(1):106-112
OBJECTIVE To analyze the factors influencing patient satisfaction in the outpatient pharmacy of tertiary maternity and child specialist hospitals in Chongqing, and provide a reference for improving the pharmaceutical management capability of tertiary maternity and child specialist hospitals and enhancing patients’ medical experience. METHODS Utilizing KANO model, a questionnaire was developed and data were analyzed. Key influencing factors were identified through the categorization of requirement attributes, Better values, Worse values, and two-dimensional matrix analysis. The impact of these categorized demand factors on overall satisfaction was further validated through Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). RESULTS Cronbach’s α coefficient for the survey questionnaire was 0.855, exceeding the acceptable threshold of 0.7; Bartlett test for sphericality yielded a value of 5 538.56 with P<0.01, indicating good reliability and validity of the survey results. Through the KANO model’s factor selection process, the top four key factors influencing patient satisfaction in outpatient pharmacies were determined to be: medication pick-up time (r=0.45), pharmacist service attitude (r=0.45), rational medication consultation (r=0.41), self-service calling system (r=0.40), all of which were subsequently validated through SEM. CONCLUSIONS The four factors of medication pick-up time, self-service calling system, pharmacist service attitude, and rational medication consultation significantly influence patient satisfaction in the outpatient pharmacies of tertiary maternity and child hospitals in Chongqing.
6.Exploration of the Pathways for Inheritance and Innovation in Traditional Chinese Medicine Based on Its Own Thinking
Qianfeng CHEN ; Hui JIAN ; Shaomin CHENG ; Jie ZHANG ; Songren YU
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(2):114-118
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) thinking serves as a comprehensive cognitive approach of TCM in recognizing and solving problem. It encompasses specific techniques (methods)and particular structures (patterns) in application. Its essential characteristics include the holistic view of "harmony between humanity and nature", the dialectical perspective of "differences and similarities in disease treatment", and the practical outlook of "unity of knowledge and action". The methods of TCM thinking emphasizes the integration of multiple cognitive approaches, forming various modes of thinking such as TCM holistic thinking, TCM four-dimensional thinking, TCM Xiang (象) and numerical thinking, and TCM clinical thinking. Currently, TCM faces both opportunities and challenges. TCM thinking plays a crucial role in the inheritance and innovation pathways of TCM, such as "cultivating medicine through culture", "leading medicine through pharmaceutical practices", "boosting industries with pharmaceuticals", and "benefiting the people through industry". At the same time, integrating TCM and modern technology not only enriches the connotation of TCM thinking, but also advances the innovation of TCM theories, addressing challenges in complex disease treatment, health management, and preventive healthcare. This integration promotes the continued prosperity of the TCM and accelerates its internationalization.
7.Availability and use of child safety seats among children aged 0-3 years
CHEN Bo ; WANG Xihui ; QIU Fengqian ; YU Yan ; GAO Shuna ; HE Lihua ; LI Weiyi ; JI Yunfang ; CHEN Weihua
Journal of Preventive Medicine 2025;37(1):21-25
Objective:
To investigate the availability and use of child safety seats among children aged 0-3 years, so as to provide the basis for improving riding safety for children.
Methods:
Parents of children aged 0-3 years in Huangpu District, Shanghai Municipality, were recruited using the stratified multistage random sampling method from May to July 2024. Demographic information, family travel patterns, the use of child safety seat and related health beliefs were collected using questionnaire surveys. Factors affecting the use of child safety seats were identified using a multivariable logistic regression model.
Results:
Totally 514 valid questionnaires were recovered, with an effective rate of 96.98%. The respondents included 122 fathers (23.74%) and 392 mothers (76.26%), with a median age of 34.00 (interquartile range, 5.00) years. There were 446 families equipping with child safety seats, accounting for 86.77%; and 169 families using child safety seats, accounting for 32.88%. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that the parents who had children aged >1-2 years (OR=0.597, 95%CI: 0.366-0.973), travelled 2-4 times per month (OR=0.359, 95%CI: 0.213-0.607) or once per month or less (OR=0.384, 95%CI: 0.202-0.729), and scored high in perceived barrier (OR=0.634, 95%CI: 0.486-0.827) were less likely to use child safety seats; the parents who had children with local household registration (OR=2.506, 95%CI: 1.356-4.633), travelled 5-<10 km (OR=1.887, 95%CI: 1.148-3.101) or ≥10 km (OR=2.319, 95%CI: 1.355-3.967), always wore seat belts (OR=2.342, 95%CI: 1.212-4.524), scored high in perceived susceptibility (OR=1.392, 95%CI: 1.091-1.778) and self-efficacy (OR=1.413, 95%CI: 1.156-1.727) were more likely to use child safety seats.
Conclusions
Equipping family cars with child safety seats and using them can prevent and reduce traffic injuries among children aged 0-3 years. It is recommended to strengthen publicity to promote the use of child safety seats.
8.Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus with Traditional Chinese Medicine Classic Prescriptions: A Review
Yu WANG ; Hedi WANG ; Qiang CHEN ; Guanqun HOU ; Yanting LU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(4):266-277
As a chronic and lifelong disease, diabetes mellitus occurs across all age groups and gender groups. Since the disease requires lifelong treatment, it seriously affects the quality of life of patients. With the rising incidence on a global scale, diabetes mellitus has become a global problem that seriously affects public health. Moreover, the complications of this disease have aroused concern from the global medical research community, the World Health Organization, and the public. In the past, Western medicine was used in the clinical treatment of diabetes mellitus, which, however, had drug dependence, unsatisfactory efficacy, and side effects. Long-term oral administration of antidiabetics may cause liver and kidney function damage, hypoglycemia and other adverse symptoms. The treatment of diabetes mellitus has been faced with challenges such as limited efficacy and obvious side effects. Therefore, exploring more effective treatment means, especially tapping the potential of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the treatment of diabetes mellitus, is a major issue to be solved. TCM has shown a great application value and a broad prospect in the treatment of diabetes mellitus because of multi-target regulation, a holistic view, synergistic effects, and high safety. TCM has a history of thousands of years in the prevention and treatment of diabetes mellitus, with rich experience accumulated and remarkable results achieved. Particularly, TCM demonstrates definite therapeutic effects on the complications. The application of TCM in the treatment of complications has been recognized and accepted by patients because of the definite therapeutic effect. In recent years, great progress has been achieved in the treatment of diabetes mellitus by the combination of Chinese and western medicine, which has made important contributions to the control of diabetes mellitus. This paper reviews the articles about the treatment of diabetes mellitus with TCM classic prescriptions, summarizes the treatment of clinical cases regarding the indications of these prescriptions, and provides an overview of the treatment mechanisms, aiming to offer fresh insights and strategies for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of diabetes mellitus.
9.Invasion and Metastasis in Colorectal Cancer Mediated by Traditional Chinese Medicine via Cell Signaling Pathway: A Review
Min GUO ; Wenyan YU ; Naicheng ZHU ; Yuwei YAN ; Chen ZHONG ; Xiudan CHEN ; Nanxin LI ; Guojuan WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(4):323-330
Colorectal cancer is a common and malignant tumor in the digestive tract. Invasion and metastasis of cancer cells are key factors leading to the high mortality rate and postoperative recurrence of colorectal cancer. Chemotherapy is the main treatment method for preventing recurrence of this disease. However, there are many toxic side effects in clinical application, which seriously hinder the treatment process. Therefore, it is imperative to search for efficient and low-toxicity drugs. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a long history of treating colorectal cancer and offers advantages such as safety, effectiveness, multiple targets, multiple pathways and minimal toxic side effects, which have made it increasingly popular worldwide. According to TCM, the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer is rooted in both deficiency and excess. TCM formulas mainly focus on tonifying the body to address the invasion and metastasis of colorectal cancer, such as Jianpi compound, Jianpi Xiaoai decoction, and Bushen Jiedu Sanjie decoction. TCM monomers, such as emodin, berberine, and tanshinone, mainly focus on clearing heat and removing toxin, circulating blood and transforming stasis, and resolving swelling and dispersing nodules. Signaling pathways play a crucial role for analyzing invasion and metastasis, and research has shown that pathways such as Wnt/β-catenin, phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase/protein kinase (PI3K/Akt), Janus kinase 2/signal transduction and transcription activating factor 3 (JAK2/STAT3), nuclear factors-κB (NF-κB), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) play important roles in the invasion and metastasis of colorectal cancer. The invasion and metastasis of colorectal cancer can be inhibited via regulating the key proteins and related factors in these pathways. In this review, we searched various literature databases, such as PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and VIP, using keywords such as "colorectal cancer", "signaling pathway", "invasion and metastasis", and "traditional Chinese medicine", to summarize and analyze the relevant pathways of TCM compounds and monomers against invasion and metastasis of colorectal cancer published in the past five years. The review aims to provide new insights and references for in-depth research on the therapy for invasion and metastasis of colorectal cancer and new drug development.
10.Efficacy comparison of small-incision lenticule extraction and femtosecond assisted laser in situ keratomileusis in the treatment of myopia with astigmatism
Min ZHOU ; Suying YU ; Wanjiang DONG ; Long CHEN ; Miao HE
International Eye Science 2025;25(2):292-296
AIM: To compare the efficacy of small-incision lenticule extraction(SMILE)and femtosecond assisted laser in situ keratomileusis(FS-LASIK)in the treatment of patients with myopia and astigmatism.METHODS: Retrospective analysis. A total of 100 cases(200 eyes)of patients with myopia and astigmatism treated in our hospital from December 2021 to December 2022 were collected. Among them, 50 cases(100 eyes)were divided into SMILE group and 50 cases(100 eyes)were divided into FS-LASIK group according to the treatment plans. The visual acuity and astigmatism, corneal morphology parameters, subjective visual quality scores, ocular surface indicators, postoperative complications, and quality of life were compared between the two groups before and after surgery.RESULTS: There was no significant difference in uncorrected visual acuity(UCVA), best corrected visual acuity(BCVA), astigmatism, corneal asphericity Q value, corneal surface regularity index(SRI), corneal thickness, and corneal curvature between the two groups before surgery and at 1 d, 1, and 6 mo after surgery(all P>0.05). At 1 and 6 mo after surgery, the subjective visual quality score, the quality of life score, Schirmer I test(SⅠt)and tear film break-up time(BUT)in the SMILE group were better than that in the FS-LASIK group(all P<0.05). The incidence of complications in the SMILE group was lower than that in the FS-LASIK group at 6 mo after surgery(P=0.005).CONCLUSION: Both SMILE and FS-LASIK have good clinical effects in the treatment of myopia with astigmatism, but the SMILE could alleviate ocular surface injury, reduce the risk of complications and improve the quality of lifes for patients.


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