ObjectiveTo observe the effect of modified Huanglian Wendantang on oxidative stress in metabolic syndrome. MethodsA total of 180 patients with metabolic syndrome treated in the outpatient clinics and wards of the First Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from October 2023 to May 2025 were enrolled in this study. According to the randomized numerical table method， the patients were assigned into two groups （90 cases）. The basic treatment of the two groups was the same， and the observation group was additionally treated with modified Huanglian Wendantang. The course of treatment was 3 months. The two groups were compared in terms of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） efficacy， obesity degree ［waist circumference （WC）， body mass index （BMI）， waist-to-hip ratio （WHR）， waist-to-height ratio （WHtR）］， blood pressure indicators ［systolic blood pressure （SBP） and diastolic blood pressure （DBP）］， lipids and glucose indicators ［total cholesterol （TC）， triglycerides （TG）， high-density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL-C）， low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C）， fasting insulin （FINS）， fasting glucose （FPG）， 2-hour postprandial glucose （2 h PG）， and glycosylated hemoglobin （HbA1c）］， insulin resistance indicators ［homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance （HOMA-IR）， triglyceride-glucose index （TYG index）， triacylglycerol-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol （TG/HDL） ratio］， oxidative stress indicators ［malondialdehyde （MDA）， superoxide dismutase （SOD）， glutathione （GSH）， glutathione peroxidase （GSH-Px）， catalase （CAT）， and reactive oxygen species （ROS）］， and the safety of treatment. ResultsIn terms of TCM efficacy， the treatment in the observation group was significantly effective in 46 cases， effective in 30 cases， and ineffective in 10 cases， with the total effective rate of 88.4%. The treatment in the control group was significantly effective in 33 cases， effective in 28 cases， and ineffective in 23 cases， with the total effective rate of 72.6%. The observation group had higher total effective rate than the control group （χ²=11.26，P<0.05）. After treatment， both groups showed declined levels of WC， BMI， WHR， WHtR， SBP， DBP， TC， TG， LDL-C， FPG， FINS， 2 h PG， HbA1c， HOMA-IR， TG/HDL ratio， TYG index， MDA， and ROS and elevated levels of HDL-C， SOD， GSH， GSH-Px， and CAT （P<0.05）. After treatment， the observation group showed lower levels of WC， BMI， WHR， WHtR， TC， TG， LDL-C， FPG， FINS， 2 h PG， HbA1c， HOMA-IR， TG/HDL ratio， TYG index， MDA， and ROS and higher levels of HDL-C， SOD， GSH， GSH-Px， and CAT than the control group （P<0.05）. However， after treatment， there was no significant difference in SBP or DBP between the observation group and the control group. No significant adverse reactions were observed in either group. ConclusionModified Huanglian Wendantang can significantly alleviate metabolic syndrome symptoms and reduce oxidative stress， exhibiting antioxidant effects. Moreover， it does not induce adverse reactions， demonstrating safety.

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of modified Huanglian Wendantang on oxidative stress in metabolic syndrome. MethodsA total of 180 patients with metabolic syndrome treated in the outpatient clinics and wards of the First Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from October 2023 to May 2025 were enrolled in this study. According to the randomized numerical table method， the patients were assigned into two groups （90 cases）. The basic treatment of the two groups was the same， and the observation group was additionally treated with modified Huanglian Wendantang. The course of treatment was 3 months. The two groups were compared in terms of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） efficacy， obesity degree ［waist circumference （WC）， body mass index （BMI）， waist-to-hip ratio （WHR）， waist-to-height ratio （WHtR）］， blood pressure indicators ［systolic blood pressure （SBP） and diastolic blood pressure （DBP）］， lipids and glucose indicators ［total cholesterol （TC）， triglycerides （TG）， high-density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL-C）， low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C）， fasting insulin （FINS）， fasting glucose （FPG）， 2-hour postprandial glucose （2 h PG）， and glycosylated hemoglobin （HbA1c）］， insulin resistance indicators ［homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance （HOMA-IR）， triglyceride-glucose index （TYG index）， triacylglycerol-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol （TG/HDL） ratio］， oxidative stress indicators ［malondialdehyde （MDA）， superoxide dismutase （SOD）， glutathione （GSH）， glutathione peroxidase （GSH-Px）， catalase （CAT）， and reactive oxygen species （ROS）］， and the safety of treatment. ResultsIn terms of TCM efficacy， the treatment in the observation group was significantly effective in 46 cases， effective in 30 cases， and ineffective in 10 cases， with the total effective rate of 88.4%. The treatment in the control group was significantly effective in 33 cases， effective in 28 cases， and ineffective in 23 cases， with the total effective rate of 72.6%. The observation group had higher total effective rate than the control group （χ²=11.26，P<0.05）. After treatment， both groups showed declined levels of WC， BMI， WHR， WHtR， SBP， DBP， TC， TG， LDL-C， FPG， FINS， 2 h PG， HbA1c， HOMA-IR， TG/HDL ratio， TYG index， MDA， and ROS and elevated levels of HDL-C， SOD， GSH， GSH-Px， and CAT （P<0.05）. After treatment， the observation group showed lower levels of WC， BMI， WHR， WHtR， TC， TG， LDL-C， FPG， FINS， 2 h PG， HbA1c， HOMA-IR， TG/HDL ratio， TYG index， MDA， and ROS and higher levels of HDL-C， SOD， GSH， GSH-Px， and CAT than the control group （P<0.05）. However， after treatment， there was no significant difference in SBP or DBP between the observation group and the control group. No significant adverse reactions were observed in either group. ConclusionModified Huanglian Wendantang can significantly alleviate metabolic syndrome symptoms and reduce oxidative stress， exhibiting antioxidant effects. Moreover， it does not induce adverse reactions， demonstrating safety.

OBJECTIVE: Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common malignancies seen in clinic and requires novel treatment options. Morin is a natural flavonoid extracted from the flower stalk of a highly valuable medicinal plant Prunella vulgaris L., which exhibits an anti-cancer effect in multiple types of tumors. However, the therapeutic effect and underlying mechanism of morin in treating GC remains elusive. The study aims to explore the therapeutic effect and underlying molecular mechanisms of morin in GC. METHODS: For in vitro experiments, the proliferation inhibition of morin was measured by cell counting kit-8 assay and colony formation assay in human GC cell line MKN45, human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line AGS, and human gastric epithelial cell line GES-1; for apoptosis analysis, microscopic photography, Western blotting, ubiquitination analysis, quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis, flow cytometry, and RNA interference technology were employed. For in vivo studies, immunohistochemistry, biomedical analysis, and Western blotting were used to assess the efficacy and safety of morin in a xenograft mouse model of GC. RESULTS: Morin significantly inhibited the proliferation of GC cells MKN45 and AGS in a dose- and time-dependent manner, but did not inhibit human gastric epithelial cells GES-1. Only the caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK was able to significantly reverse the inhibition of proliferation by morin in both GC cells, suggesting that apoptosis was the main type of cell death during the treatment. Morin induced intrinsic apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner in GC cells, which mainly relied on B cell leukemia/lymphoma 2 (BCL-2) associated agonist of cell death (BAD) but not phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate-induced protein 1. The upregulation of BAD by morin was due to blocking the ubiquitination degradation of BAD, rather than the transcription regulation and the phosphorylation of BAD. Furthermore, the combination of morin and BCL-2 inhibitor navitoclax (also known as ABT-737) produced a synergistic inhibitory effect in GC cells through amplifying apoptotic signals. In addition, morin treatment significantly suppressed the growth of GC in vivo by upregulating BAD and the subsequent activation of its downstream apoptosis pathway. CONCLUSION Morin suppressed GC by inducing apoptosis, which was mainly due to blocking the ubiquitination-based degradation of the pro-apoptotic protein BAD. The combination of morin and the BCL-2 inhibitor ABT-737 synergistically amplified apoptotic signals in GC cells, which may overcome the drug resistance of the BCL-2 inhibitor. These findings indicated that morin was a potent and promising agent for GC treatment. Please cite this article as: Wang Y, Sun XY, Ma FQ, Ren MM, Zhao RH, Qin MM, Zhu XH, Xu Y, Cao ND, Chen YY, Dong TG, Pan YF, Zhao AG. Morin inhibits ubiquitination degradation of BCL-2 associated agonist of cell death and synergizes with BCL-2 inhibitor in gastric cancer cells. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(3): 320-332.
Humans ; Flavonoids/therapeutic use* ; Stomach Neoplasms/pathology* ; Animals ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/metabolism* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects* ; Ubiquitination/drug effects* ; Mice ; Drug Synergism ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays ; Flavones

OBJECTIVE: The concept of constitution in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been increasingly recognized as a crucial factor in both the prevention and treatment of insomnia. However, rigorous statistical evidence on the correlation between TCM constitutions-particularly mixed constitutions-and insomnia disorder remains limited. This study aimed to investigate the association between specific TCM constitutions and insomnia disorder. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Preventive Medicine, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai, from November 2022 to December 2023. TCM constitutions were assessed using the Constitution in Chinese Medicine Questionnaire. Insomnia disorder was diagnosed by experienced internal medicine physicians according to the criteria of the International Classification of Sleep Disorders, Third Edition. A total of 1065 eligible participants (242 with insomnia disorder and 823 controls) were included in the final analysis. RESULTS: Among the participants, 862 (80.94%) exhibited biased constitutions, with 75.30% of these having mixed constitutions. Logistic regression analysis revealed a negative association between the gentleness constitution and insomnia disorder, whereas qi-deficiency, yang-deficiency, phlegm-dampness and qi-depression constitutions were positively associated with insomnia disorder. These associations remained significant after adjusting for potential confounders and were further validated through sensitivity analysis using propensity score matching. CONCLUSION Significant associations between TCM constitutions and insomnia disorder were demonstrated. Future research should further investigate these relationships and explore the underlying mechanisms through rigorous longitudinal and interventional studies to improve understanding and clinical applications. Please cite this article as: Han Y, Wang Y, Shi MY, Liu Y, Cheng XD, Zhou Y. Integrating traditional Chinese medicine constitutions into insomnia management: Findings from a cross-sectional study. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(4): 382-389.
Humans ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/therapy* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Aged ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVE: Psoriasis, a common chronic inflammatory skin condition with genetic underpinnings, is traditionally managed with cupping therapy. Although used historically, the precise mechanical effects and therapeutic mechanisms of cupping in psoriasis remain largely unexamined. This study aimed to evaluate cupping therapy's efficacy for psoriasis and investigate its role in modulating inflammatory responses and cellular metabolism. METHODS: Psoriasis was induced in mice using topical imiquimod (IMQ). The effects of cupping on psoriatic lesions were assessed using the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score, histology, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence staining. polymerase chain reaction sequencing (RNA-seq) and Western blotting were conducted to examine changes in mRNA expression and the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway. RESULTS: Cupping therapy significantly reduced inflammation, epidermal thickness, and inflammatory cell infiltration in mice with IMQ-induced psoriasis. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence showed lower expression of inflammatory markers and a shift in T-cell populations. RNA-seq and Western blotting indicated that cupping upregulated Piezo1 and activated the AMPK pathway, improving energy metabolism in psoriatic skin. CONCLUSION Cupping therapy reduces epidermal hyperproliferation and inflammation in psoriasis, rebalancing the local immune microenvironment. Mechanistically, cupping promotes calcium influx via Piezo1, activates AMPK signaling, and supports metabolic homeostasis, suggesting therapeutic potential for psoriasis. Please cite this article as: Xi RF, Liu X, Wang Y, Lu HZ, Yuan SJ, Guo DJ, Zhu JY, Li FL, Duan YJ. Mechanosensory activation of Piezo1 via cupping therapy: Harnessing neural networks to modulate AMPK pathway for metabolic restoration in a mouse model of psoriasis. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(6):721-732.
Animals ; Psoriasis/chemically induced* ; Mice ; AMP-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Cupping Therapy/methods* ; Signal Transduction ; Imiquimod ; Ion Channels/genetics* ; Male ; Mechanotransduction, Cellular

OBJECTIVE: Recombination events are common and serve as the primary driving force of diverse human adenovirus (HAdV), particularly in children with acute respiratory tract infections (ARIs). Therefore, continual monitoring of these events is essential for effective viral surveillance and control. METHODS: Respiratory specimens were collected from children with ARIs between January 2022 and December 2023. The penton base, hexon, and fiber genes were amplified from HAdV-positive specimens and sequenced to determine the virus type. In cases with inconsistent typing results, genes were cloned into the pGEM-T vector to detect recombination events. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) was performed to characterize the recombinant HAdV genomes. RESULTS: Among 6,771 specimens, 277 (4.09%, 277/6,771) were positvie for HAdV, of which 157 (56.68%, 157/277) were successfully typed, with HAdV-B3 being the dominant type (91.08%, 143/157), and 14 (5.05%, 14/277) exhibited inconsistent typing results, six of which belonged to species B. The penton base genes of these six specimens were classified as HAdV-B7, whereas their hexon and fiber genes were classified as HAdV-B3, resulting in a recombinant genotype designated P7H3F3, which closely resembled HAdV-B114. Additionally, a partial gene encoding L1 52/55 kD was identified, which originated from HAdV-B16. CONCLUSION A novel recombinant, P7H3F3, was identified, containing sequences derived from HAdV-B3 and HAdV-B7, which is similar to HAdV-B114, along with additional sequences from HAdV-B16.
Humans ; Adenoviruses, Human/isolation & purification* ; Respiratory Tract Infections/epidemiology* ; Child, Preschool ; Child ; Recombination, Genetic ; Male ; Beijing/epidemiology* ; Infant ; Female ; Phylogeny ; Adenovirus Infections, Human/epidemiology* ; Acute Disease ; Genome, Viral

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) poses a significant risk of neural damage during pregnancy. As the most prevalent intrauterine infectious agent in low- and middle-income countries, HCMV disrupts the development of neural stem cells, leading to fetal malformations and abnormal structural and physiological functions in the fetal brain. This review summarizes the current understanding of how HCMV infection dysregulates the Wnt signaling pathway to induce fetal malformations and discusses current management strategies.
Humans ; Cytomegalovirus Infections/virology* ; Wnt Signaling Pathway ; Pregnancy ; Female ; Cytomegalovirus/physiology* ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/virology* ; Congenital Abnormalities/virology* ; Animals

Objective To examine the changing prevalence and antimicrobial resistance profiles of Burkholderia cepacia in 52 hospitals across China from 2015 to 2021.Methods A total of 9 261 strains of B.cepacia were collected from 52 hospitals between January 1,2015 and December 31,2021.Antimicrobial susceptibility of the strains was tested using Kirby-Bauer method or automated antimicrobial susceptibility testing systems according to a unified protocol.The results were interpreted according to the breakpoints released in the Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institute(CLSI)guidelines(2023 edition).Results A total of 9 261 strains of B.cepacia were isolated from all age groups,especially elderly patients.The proportion was 11.1％(1 032 strains)in children,significantly lower than the proportion in adults.About half(46.5％,4 310/9 261)of the strains were isolated from patients at least 60 years old and 42.3％(3 919/9 261)of the strains were isolated from young adults.Most isolates(71.1％)were isolated from sputum and respiratory secretions,followed by urine(10.7％)and blood samples(8.1％).B.cepacia isolates were highly susceptible to the five antimicrobial agents recommended in the CLSI M100 document(33rd edition,2023).B.cepacia isolates showed relatively higher resistance rates to meropenem and levofloxacin.However,the resistance rates to ceftazidime,trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole,and minocycline remained below 8.1％.The percentage of B.cepacia strains resistant to levofloxacin was the highest compared to other antibiotics in any of the three age groups(from 12.4％in the patients＜18 years old to 20.6％in the patients aged 60 years or older).Conclusions B.cepacia is one of the clinically important non-fermenting gram-negative bacteria.Accurate and timely reporting of antimicrobial susceptibility test results and ongoing antimicrobial resistance surveillance are helpful for rational prescription of antimicrobial agents and proper prevention and control of nosocomial infections.

Objective To summarize the changing prevalence of carbapenem resistance in Enterobacterales based on the data of CHINET Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Program from 2015 to 2021 for improving antimicrobial treatment in clinical practice.Methods Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using a commercial automated susceptibility testing system according to the unified CHINET protocol.The results were interpreted according to the breakpoints of the Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institute(CLSI)M100 31st ed in 2021.Results Over the seven-year period(2015-2021),the overall prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales(CRE)was 9.43％(62 342/661 235).The prevalence of CRE strains in Klebsiella pneumoniae,Citrobacter freundii,and Enterobacter cloacae was 22.38％,9.73％,and 8.47％,respectively.The prevalence of CRE strains in Escherichia coli was 1.99％.A few CRE strains were also identified in Salmonella and Shigella.The CRE strains were mainly isolated from respiratory specimens(44.23±2.80)％,followed by blood(20.88±3.40)％and urine(18.40±3.45)％.Intensive care units(ICUs)were the major source of the CRE strains(27.43±5.20)％.CRE strains were resistant to all the β-lactam antibiotics tested and most non-β-lactam antimicrobial agents.The CRE strains were relatively susceptible to tigecycline and polymyxins with low resistance rates.Conclusions The prevalence of CRE strains was increasing from 2015 to 2021.CRE strains were highly resistant to most of the antibacterial drugs used in clinical practice.Clinicians should prescribe antimicrobial agents rationally.Hospitals should strengthen antibiotic stewardship in key clinical settings such as ICUs,and take effective infection control measures to curb CRE outbreak and epidemic in hospitals.

Objective To characterize the changing species distribution and antibiotic resistance profiles of respiratory isolates in hospitals participating in the CHINET Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Program from 2015 to 2021.Methods Commercial automated antimicrobial susceptibility testing systems and disk diffusion method were used to test the susceptibility of respiratory bacterial isolates to antimicrobial agents following the standardized technical protocol established by the CHINET program.Results A total of 589 746 respiratory isolates were collected from 2015 to 2021.Overall,82.6％of the isolates were Gram-negative bacteria and 17.4％were Gram-positive bacteria.The bacterial isolates from outpatients and inpatients accounted for(6.0±0.9)％and(94.0±0.1)％,respectively.The top microorganisms were Klebsiella spp.,Acinetobacter spp.,Pseudomonas aeruginosa,Staphylococcus aureus,Haemophilus spp.,Stenotrophomonas maltophilia,Escherichia coli,and Streptococcus pneumoniae.Each microorganism was isolated from significantly more males than from females(P＜0.05).The overall prevalence of methicillin-resistant S.aureus(MRSA)was 39.9％.The prevalence of penicillin-resistant S.pneumoniae was 1.4％.The prevalence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase(ESBL)-producing E.coli and K.pneumoniae was 67.8％and 41.3％,respectively.The overall prevalence of carbapenem-resistant E.coli,K.pneumoniae,Enterobacter cloacae,Pseudomonas aeruginosa,and Acinetobacter baumannii was 3.7％,20.8％,9.4％,29.8％,and 73.3％,respectively.The prevalence of β-lactamase was 96.1％in Moraxella catarrhalis and 60.0％in Haemophilus influenzae.The H.influenzae isolates from children(＜18 years)showed significantly higher resistance rates to β-lactam antibiotics than the isolates from adults(P＜0.05).Conclusions Gram-negative bacteria are still predominant in respiratory isolates associated with serious antibiotic resistance.Antimicrobial resistance surveillance should be strengthened in clinical practice to support accurate etiological diagnosis and appropriate antimicrobial therapy based on antimicrobial susceptibility testing results.