1.Exploring the Comorbidity Mechanism,Prevention and Treatment Strategies of Rheumatoid Arthritis with Coronary Atherosclerotic Heart Disease Based on Collateral Disease Theory
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(9):951-955
Based on the collateral disease theory, this paper systematically reviews the mechanism laws and the prevention and treatment strategies for the comorbidity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and coronary heart disease (CHD). It is believed that the collateral vessels serve as the core pathways connecting the limbs and joints with the zang-fu (脏腑) organs. The comorbidity of RA and CHD follows a progressive transmission pattern from wang bi (尪痹), vessel bi (脉痹) to heart bi (心痹). In this sequence, wang bi refers to damp-heat obstructing the qi collaterals of the limbs and joints. Vessel bi is characterized by the binding of phlegm and stasis, along with hyperactive changes in the collateral pathways, and pathogenic factors penetrating the blood vessels. Heart bi occurs when latent toxins damage the collaterals and lead to failure of heart yang. In terms of prevention and treatment strategies, the principle of "treating disease before it arises" should be adopted as guidance, taking overall therapeutic goal as preventing pathogenic factors from penetrating inward along the collaterals, that is from the body surface and limbs into the zang-fu organs. At the wang bi stage, treatment focuses on clearing heat and draining dampness, diffusing and unblocking qi collaterals, while at the vessel bi stage, it is recommended to clear up phlegm, dissolve stasis, and unblock blood collaterals. At the heart bi stage, treatment should focus on activating blood and unblocking the collaterals, restoring yang and diffusing bi.
2.Exploring the Comorbidity Mechanism,Prevention and Treatment Strategies of Rheumatoid Arthritis with Coronary Atherosclerotic Heart Disease Based on Collateral Disease Theory
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(9):951-955
Based on the collateral disease theory, this paper systematically reviews the mechanism laws and the prevention and treatment strategies for the comorbidity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and coronary heart disease (CHD). It is believed that the collateral vessels serve as the core pathways connecting the limbs and joints with the zang-fu (脏腑) organs. The comorbidity of RA and CHD follows a progressive transmission pattern from wang bi (尪痹), vessel bi (脉痹) to heart bi (心痹). In this sequence, wang bi refers to damp-heat obstructing the qi collaterals of the limbs and joints. Vessel bi is characterized by the binding of phlegm and stasis, along with hyperactive changes in the collateral pathways, and pathogenic factors penetrating the blood vessels. Heart bi occurs when latent toxins damage the collaterals and lead to failure of heart yang. In terms of prevention and treatment strategies, the principle of "treating disease before it arises" should be adopted as guidance, taking overall therapeutic goal as preventing pathogenic factors from penetrating inward along the collaterals, that is from the body surface and limbs into the zang-fu organs. At the wang bi stage, treatment focuses on clearing heat and draining dampness, diffusing and unblocking qi collaterals, while at the vessel bi stage, it is recommended to clear up phlegm, dissolve stasis, and unblock blood collaterals. At the heart bi stage, treatment should focus on activating blood and unblocking the collaterals, restoring yang and diffusing bi.
3.Treatment of Ankylosing Spondylitis Based on the Dynamic Pathogenesis of "Heat Bi (痹)-Marrow Deficiency-Bone Damage"
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(14):1509-1513
Based on the understanding of "kidney storing essence and marrow nourishing bone", and in combination with the modern pathological characteristics of ankylosing spondylitis (AS), this paper systematically elucidates the dynamic pathogenesis evolution of "heat bi (inflammatory activity)-marrow deficiency (bone marrow edema)-bone damage (bone structural damage)" in AS. It is proposed that in the heat bi stage, there is kidney deficiency with pathogenic invasion and heat congesting the meridians. In the marrow deficiency stage, heat consumes kidney essence, leading to marrow injury and collateral obstruction. In the bone damage stage, kidney exhaustion and marrow emptiness occur, with phlegm-stasis congealing on bone. Accordingly, a stage-specific treatment strategy for AS is established. In the heat bi stage, treatment focuses on supplementing the kidney and replenishing essence, clearing heat and unblocking collaterals. In the marrow deficiency stage, the main approach is to supplement the kidney and benefit marrow, unblock collaterals and reduce edema. In the bone damage stage, it is suggested to supplement the kidney and replenish essence, benefit marrow and strengthen bone, resolve phlegm and expel stasis.
4.Treatment of Ankylosing Spondylitis Based on the Dynamic Pathogenesis of "Heat Bi (痹)-Marrow Deficiency-Bone Damage"
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(14):1509-1513
Based on the understanding of "kidney storing essence and marrow nourishing bone", and in combination with the modern pathological characteristics of ankylosing spondylitis (AS), this paper systematically elucidates the dynamic pathogenesis evolution of "heat bi (inflammatory activity)-marrow deficiency (bone marrow edema)-bone damage (bone structural damage)" in AS. It is proposed that in the heat bi stage, there is kidney deficiency with pathogenic invasion and heat congesting the meridians. In the marrow deficiency stage, heat consumes kidney essence, leading to marrow injury and collateral obstruction. In the bone damage stage, kidney exhaustion and marrow emptiness occur, with phlegm-stasis congealing on bone. Accordingly, a stage-specific treatment strategy for AS is established. In the heat bi stage, treatment focuses on supplementing the kidney and replenishing essence, clearing heat and unblocking collaterals. In the marrow deficiency stage, the main approach is to supplement the kidney and benefit marrow, unblock collaterals and reduce edema. In the bone damage stage, it is suggested to supplement the kidney and replenish essence, benefit marrow and strengthen bone, resolve phlegm and expel stasis.
5.Focusing on sense of urgency and entry point of innate and adaptive immunity in study of ankylosing spondylitis mechanisms
Chinese Journal of Immunology 2025;41(6):1497-1503
Ankylosing spondylitis(AS)is a worldwide refractory autoimmune disease whose exact etiology is not fully under-stood,and disorders of body's immune system are currently thought to play an important driving role in development of AS.Previous studies generally attach great importance to role of T cells in pathogenesis of AS.With in-depth research on AS,more and more evidence indicates that both innate immune cells and adaptive immune cells can trigger AS and are closely related to three core patho-logical links of AS,namely inflammation,bone destruction and new bone formation.In this article,we discuss mechanisms involved in development of AS by both innate and adaptive immune cells,with aim of providing new ideas for treatment of AS.
6.Network pharmacological analysis of berberine inhibiting breast can-cer cell proliferation and in vitro cell validation
Huihui ZHANG ; Le JIN ; Su LIU ; Hongxiao CHEN ; Zhaolin CHEN ; Liqin TANG
Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics 2025;30(3):332-338
AIM:To explore the mechanism of berberine on breast cancer cells based on network pharmacology and in vitro cell experiments.METH-ODS:Firstly,berberine and breast cancer were tak-en as the research objects,the intersection targets of the two were screened by VEEN diagram,GO function and KEGG enrichment analysis were per-formed by R language,and molecular docking and visualization were carried out by Autodock Vina and Pymol software.Then,berberine treated breast cancer MCF-7 cells for 24 h,and then in vi-tro cell experiments were performed.CCK-8 was used to detect cell viability,Edu and plate cloning were used to detect cell proliferation and cloning,and apoptosis was detected by An-nexin V-FITC/PI double staining and Western blot.Laser confocal and CETSA were used to verify the binding effect of berberine and AKT1 protein.RESULTS:The results of network pharmacology showed that berberine had a good binding to the core targets AKT1,AKT2 and MAPK3.Berberine(20,40,80 μmol/L)signifi-cantly inhibited the proliferation and cloning ability of MCF-7 cells in a concentration-dependent man-ner(P<0.05,P<0.01).The results of laser confocal and CETSA experiments showed that berberine and AKT1 had a binding effect,and the stability of the two was enhanced after the combination.CONCLU-SION:Berberine inhibits MCF-7 cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in human breast cancer cells by targeting binding to AKT1 protein.
7.Network pharmacological analysis of berberine inhibiting breast can-cer cell proliferation and in vitro cell validation
Huihui ZHANG ; Le JIN ; Su LIU ; Hongxiao CHEN ; Zhaolin CHEN ; Liqin TANG
Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics 2025;30(3):332-338
AIM:To explore the mechanism of berberine on breast cancer cells based on network pharmacology and in vitro cell experiments.METH-ODS:Firstly,berberine and breast cancer were tak-en as the research objects,the intersection targets of the two were screened by VEEN diagram,GO function and KEGG enrichment analysis were per-formed by R language,and molecular docking and visualization were carried out by Autodock Vina and Pymol software.Then,berberine treated breast cancer MCF-7 cells for 24 h,and then in vi-tro cell experiments were performed.CCK-8 was used to detect cell viability,Edu and plate cloning were used to detect cell proliferation and cloning,and apoptosis was detected by An-nexin V-FITC/PI double staining and Western blot.Laser confocal and CETSA were used to verify the binding effect of berberine and AKT1 protein.RESULTS:The results of network pharmacology showed that berberine had a good binding to the core targets AKT1,AKT2 and MAPK3.Berberine(20,40,80 μmol/L)signifi-cantly inhibited the proliferation and cloning ability of MCF-7 cells in a concentration-dependent man-ner(P<0.05,P<0.01).The results of laser confocal and CETSA experiments showed that berberine and AKT1 had a binding effect,and the stability of the two was enhanced after the combination.CONCLU-SION:Berberine inhibits MCF-7 cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in human breast cancer cells by targeting binding to AKT1 protein.
8.The Effect of Bone Immune Microenvironment and Bone Mesenchymal Stem Cells on the Heterotopic Ossification of Ankylosing Spondylitis Based on the Theory of "Bone Sweat Pore-Kidney Visceral Manifestation"
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(2):128-132
Heterotopic ossification is an important pathological link leading to disability in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Imbalance of bone immune microenvironment is the initiating factor for heterotopic ossification in AS, while abnormal osteogenic potential of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) is the core link. From the perspective of "bone sweat pore-kidney visceral manifestation" in traditional Chinese medicine, it is believed that dysfunction of "kidney visceral manifestation" is the basis for the induction of heterotopic ossification by bone immune microenvironment and BMSCs, and "bone sweat pore" is their important setting. Accordingly, it is proposed that the kidney and sweat pore should be nourished and regulated to reshape the bone immune microenvironment and BMSCs function, and that obstruction should be removed and the marrow should be unblocked to eliminate the pathological factors that lead to AS heterotopic ossification. This provides a new perspective and basis for the treatment of AS with traditional Chinese medicine.
9.Working ability of ankylosing spondylitis population in China and its influencing factors
Qing YU ; Yuening CHEN ; Hongxiao LIU
Academic Journal of Naval Medical University 2025;46(4):488-496
Objective To explore the status of working ability of patients with ankylosing spondylitis(AS)in China from multi-center,multi-level and multi-dimensional perspectives,and analyze the influencing factors of working ability in AS patients,so as to improve the outcome of working ability disorder in AS patients.Methods The demographic data,working ability and disease-related information of 253 AS patients admitted to 10 hospitals in 9 centers in China from Mar.2022 to Sep.2023 were collected.Work productivity and activity impairment questionnaire was used to investigate the working status.The influencing factors of working ability disorder were analyzed,and the correlations of the work ability with the severity of disease,self-assessment,and mental health status were discussed.Results A total of 253 patients with AS were enrolled,of which 197(77.87%)were employed,76(30.04%)were in normal working status,and 177(69.96%)had disorder in working ability.Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the course of AS,Bath ankylosing spondylitis functional index,Bath ankylosing spondylitis measurement index,functional assessment of chronic illness therapy-fatigue,ankylosing spondylitis disease activity score-erythrocyte sedimentation rate,Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society health index,depression,anxiety,and patient global assessment were important factors affecting the working ability of patients.Conclusion There is a high proportion of work ability disorder in Chinese AS patients,and the severity of the disease,psychological state and self-reported outcome are closely related to the status of work ability.
10.Treating stasis-heat based on the ministerial fire axis of "pericardium-sanjiao-gallbladder"
Nachuan LI ; Kai LYU ; Ziwang LIU ; Hongxiao ZHANG ; Meng ZHANG ; Lu DING
Journal of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;48(3):330-335
Stasis-heat is a pathological factor associated with numerous exogenous and internal injuries, representing a pivotal mechanism in disease progression. Its primary cause is fire-heat toxicity. Based on the theory of qi and the holistic perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, this concept emphasizes that the biochemistry of all natural phenomena relies on the dynamic movement of qi ascending, descending, exiting, and entering. Within six qi, "fire" includes sovereign and ministerial fires. While physiological ministerial fire is the source power of life, pathological ministerial fire manifests as violent, intense energy that readily interacts with blood, leading to the formation of stasis-heat. Therefore, this article examines the formation and treatment of stasis-heat resulting from ministerial fire dysfunction. From the perspectives of ministerial fire gasification, the shape and quality of meridians, and the elevation of ministerial fire, it elucidates why the "pericardium-sanjiao-gallbladder" axis is regarded as pivotal. Furthermore, when the "pericardium-sanjiao-gallbladder" ministerial fire axis is unfavorable, and the stagnation of ministerial fire elevation and blockage is crucial to stasis-heat formation. Additionally, the depletion of essence and blood in the liver and kidneys, preventing the proper storage of ministerial fire, forms the pathological foundation. Drawing upon The Inner Canon of Yellow Emperor, this article explores therapeutic principles based on the rules of odor treatment: "when fires in the interior, the treatment of salty and cold, accompanied by bitter and pungent, acid to astringe, bitter to disperse." These principles are applied to achieve specific therapeutic goals: tempering the excess of ministerial fire to cool the nutritive level and transform stasis; adjusting the imbalance of elevation and depression to vent heat and unblock stasis; and restoring the misplaced fire by nourishing blood to expel stasis. Through these approaches, the article aims to reestablish the proper circulation of ministerial fire, dissipate blood stasis, and ultimately eliminate stasis-heat, thereby offering an integrated perspective on its pathogenesis and treatment.


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