1.Combined Therapy of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine for Hepatitis B Virus Infection: A Review
Xuan WU ; Hui LI ; Jian HUANG ; Xikun YANG ; Yan ZENG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(2):279-288
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is the primary cause of viral hepatitis and represents a substantial disease burden in China. However, effective and safe agents capable of completely eliminating HBV DNA are still lacking. In modern medicine, anti-HBV strategies mainly target covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), among other mechanisms, and multiple novel drugs are currently under clinical investigation. Traditional medicine has been shown to exert anti-HBV effects through direct pathways, such as blocking viral entry, as well as indirect pathways, including the regulation of programmed cell death. Studies have confirmed that the integration of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Western medicine in treating HBV infection and its related complications offers complementary advantages, particularly in enhancing HBV clearance rates, improving liver function, preventing various complications, and delaying the progression from hepatic fibrosis to hepatocellular carcinoma. This review focuses on advances in anti-HBV research involving TCM, Western medicine, and their integrated application, aiming to provide a basis for integrated HBV therapy and new drug development.
2.Mini-barcode development based on chloroplast genome of Descurainiae Semen Lepidii Semen and its adulterants and its application in Chinese patent medicine.
Hui LI ; Yu-Jie ZENG ; Xin-Yi LI ; ABDULLAH ; Yu-Hua HUANG ; Ru-Shan YAN ; Rui SHAO ; Yu WANG ; Xiao-Xuan TIAN
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(7):1758-1769
Descurainiae Semen Lepidii Semen, also known as Tinglizi, originates from Brassicaceae plants Descurainia sophia or Lepidium apetalum. The former is commonly referred to as "Southern Tinglizi(Descurainiae Semen)", while the latter is known as "Northern Tinglizi(Lepidii Semen)". To scientifically and accurately identify the origin of Tinglizi medicinal materials and traditional Chinese medicine products, this study developed a specific DNA mini-barcode based on chloroplast genome sequences. By combining the DNA mini-barcode with DNA metabarcoding technology, a method for the qualitative and quantitative identification of Tinglizi medicinal materials and Chinese patent medicines was established. In this study, chloroplast genomes of Southern Tinglizi and Northern Tinglizi and seven commonly encountered counterfeit products were downloaded from the GenBank database. Suitable polymorphic regions were identified to differentiate these species, enabling the development of the DNA mini-barcode. Using DNA metabarcoding technology, medicinal material mixtures of Southern and Northern Tinglizi, as well as the most common counterfeit product, Capsella bursa-pastoris seeds, were analyzed to validate the qualitative and quantitative capabilities of the mini-barcode and determine its minimum detection limit. Additionally, the mini-barcode was applied to Chinese patent medicines containing Tinglizi to authenticate their botanical origin. The results showed that the developed mini-barcode(psbB) exhibited high accuracy and specificity, effectively distinguishing between the two authentic origins of Tinglizi and commonly encountered counterfeit products. The analysis of mixtures demonstrated that the mini-barcode had excellent qualitative and quantitative capabilities, accurately identifying the composition of Chinese medicinal materials in mixed samples with varying proportions. Furthermore, the analysis of Chinese patent medicines revealed the presence of the adulterant species(Capsella bursa-pastoris) in addition to the authentic species(Southern and Northern Tinglizi), indicating the occurrence of adulteration in commercially available Tinglizi-containing products. This study developed a method for the qualitative and quantitative identification of multi-origin Chinese medicinal materials and related products, providing a model for research on other multi-origin Chinese medicinal materials.
DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic/methods*
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry*
;
Drug Contamination
;
Genome, Chloroplast
;
Medicine, Chinese Traditional
3.Mechanism of Euphorbiae Ebracteolatae Radix processed by milk in reducing intestinal toxicity.
Chang-Li SHEN ; Hao WU ; Hong-Li YU ; Hong-Mei WEN ; Xiao-Bing CUI ; Hui-Min BIAN ; Tong-la-Ga LI ; Min ZENG ; Yan-Qing XU ; Yu-Xin GU
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(12):3204-3213
This study aimed to investigate the correlation between changes in intestinal toxicity and compositional alterations of Euphorbiae Ebracteolatae Radix(commonly known as Langdu) before and after milk processing, and to explore the detoxification mechanism of milk processing. Mice were intragastrically administered the 95% ethanol extract of raw Euphorbiae Ebracteolatae Radix, milk-decocted(milk-processed), and water-decocted(water-processed) Euphorbiae Ebracteolatae Radix. Fecal morphology, fecal water content, and the release levels of inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and interleukin-1β(IL-1β) in different intestinal segments were used as indicators to evaluate the effects of different processing methods on the cathartic effect and intestinal inflammatory toxicity of Euphorbiae Ebracteolatae Radix. LC-MS/MS was employed to analyze the small-molecule components in the raw product, the 95% ethanol extract of the milk-processed product, and the milky waste(precipitate) formed during milk processing, to assess the impact of milk processing on the chemical composition of Euphorbiae Ebracteolatae Radix. The results showed that compared with the blank group, both the raw and water-processed Euphorbiae Ebracteolatae Radix significantly increased the fecal morphology score, fecal water content, and the release levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in various intestinal segments(P<0.05). Compared with the raw group, all indicators in the milk-processed group significantly decreased(P<0.05), while no significant differences were observed in the water-processed group, indicating that milk, as an adjuvant in processing, plays a key role in reducing the intestinal toxicity of Euphorbiae Ebracteolatae Radix. Mass spectrometry results revealed that 29 components were identified in the raw product, including 28 terpenoids and 1 acetophenone. The content of these components decreased to varying extents after milk processing. A total of 28 components derived from Euphorbiae Ebracteolatae Radix were identified in the milky precipitate, of which 27 were terpenoids, suggesting that milk processing promotes the transfer of toxic components from Euphorbiae Ebracteolatae Radix into milk. To further investigate the effect of milk adjuvant processing on the toxic terpenoid components of Euphorbiae Ebracteolatae Radix, transmission electron microscopy(TEM) was used to observe the morphology of self-assembled casein micelles(the main protein in milk) in the milky precipitate. The micelles formed in casein-terpenoid solutions were characterized using particle size analysis, fluorescence spectroscopy, ultraviolet spectroscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared(FTIR) spectroscopy. TEM observations confirmed the presence of casein micelles in the milky precipitate. Characterization results showed that with increasing concentrations of toxic terpenoids, the average particle size of casein micelles increased, fluorescence intensity of the solution decreased, the maximum absorption wavelength in the UV spectrum shifted, and significant changes occurred in the infrared spectrum, indicating that interactions occurred between casein micelles and toxic terpenoid components. These findings indicate that the cathartic effect of Euphorbiae Ebracteolatae Radix becomes milder and its intestinal inflammatory toxicity is reduced after milk processing. The detoxification mechanism is that terpenoid components in Euphorbiae Ebracteolatae Radix reassemble with casein in milk to form micelles, promoting the transfer of some terpenoids into the milky precipitate.
Animals
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Mice
;
Milk/chemistry*
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry*
;
Male
;
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/immunology*
;
Intestines/drug effects*
;
Interleukin-1beta/immunology*
;
Tandem Mass Spectrometry
;
Female
4.Clinical efficacy of multi-technique combination in the treatment of ischemic diabetic foot.
Hui-Yan LIU ; Yi YOU ; Wen-Gao WU ; Sheng RONG ; Qing-Hua ZHOU ; Na-Xin ZENG
China Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology 2025;38(9):917-923
OBJECTIVE:
To explore clinical efficacy of different technical combinations in treating ischemic diabetic foot (DF).
METHODS:
A retrospective analysis was conducted on 35 patients with DF who were treated with vascular interventional opening technique, periosteal distraction technique and bone cement coverage technique from January 2024 to November 2024. They were divided into comprehensive group and periosteal distraction group according to whether the vascular interventional opening technique was used in combination or not. There were 5 patients in comprehensive group, including 4 males and 1 female, aged from 59 to 73 years old with an average of (64.40±5.46) years old;the duration of diabetes ranged from 0.17 to 30.00 years with an average of (14.63±12.02) years;the courses of DF ranged from 30 to 150 days with an average of (84.00±61.48) days;2 patients were grade 2, 2 patients were grade 3, and 1 patient was grade 4 according to Wagner classification;combined vascular interventional opening, periosteal distraction and bone cement coverage surgery for treatment. There were 30 patients in periosteal stretch group, including 22 males and 8 females, aged from 58 to 86 years old with an average of (72.63±7.84) years old;the duration of diabetes was 10.00 (6.75, 16.75) years;the courses of DF was 30.00 (15.00, 37.50) days;14 patients were grade 2, 11 patients were grade 3, and 5 patients were grade 4 according to Wagner classification; combined periosteal distraction and bone cement coverage surgery for treatment. Changes of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and procalcitonin (PCT), toe skin temperature, peripheral capillary oxygen saturation (SpO2), and visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain were compared between two groups before operation and 1 week after operation. The number of operations, healing period, healing number, toe amputation number, preoperative fever situation and the number of complications were compared between two groups.
RESULTS:
Both groups were followed up for at least 6 months. There were no statistically significant differences in the number of operations, healing period, toe amputation rate, wound healing rate and complications between two groups (P>0.05). Before operation, the toe skin temperature of comprehensive group (26.98±0.88) ℃ was lower than that of periosteal distraction group (28.17±1.45) ℃, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05);while there were no statistically significant difference in CRP, IL-6, PCT, toe SpO2 and VAS between two groups (P>0.05). At 1 week after operation, IL-6, toe skin temperature, toe SpO2 and VAS in comprehensive group were 12.29(7.92, 22.15) pg·ml-1, (36.02±0.23) ℃, (95.80±0.84) % and(1.40±0.55) respectively, while those in periosteal distraction group were 5.49(4.36, 7.45) pg·ml-1, (31.36±1.57) ℃, (84.53±6.38) %, (2.20±0.81);and there were statistically significant differences between two groups(P<0.05). CRP, IL-6 and VAS at 1 week after operation in both groups were decreased compared with those before operation, and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05). The toe skin temperature and SpO2 were increased compared with those before operation, and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.001).
CONCLUSION
The multi-technique combination therapy, including vascular interventional opening technique, periostealdistraction technique and bone cement covering technique, could protect each other, enhance efficacy, effectively promote the wound healing of ischemic diabetic foot ulcer, and reduce the toe amputation rate. For moderate to severe ischemic DF, the combined use of periosteal distraction and bone cement coverage techniques has a satisfactory effect. For extremely severe ischemic DF with inflow tract lesions, vascular interventional opening techniques need to be added.
Humans
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Male
;
Female
;
Middle Aged
;
Aged
;
Diabetic Foot/surgery*
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Aged, 80 and over
;
Ischemia/surgery*
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Interleukin-6/metabolism*
5.Compound Centella asiatica formula alleviates Schistosoma japonicum-induced liver fibrosis in mice by inhibiting the inflammation-fibrosis cascade via regulating the TLR4/MyD88 pathway.
Liping GUAN ; Yan YAN ; Xinyi LU ; Zhifeng LI ; Hui GAO ; Dong CAO ; Chenxi HOU ; Jingyu ZENG ; Xinyi LI ; Yang ZHAO ; Junjie WANG ; Huilong FANG
Journal of Southern Medical University 2025;45(6):1307-1316
OBJECTIVES:
To explore the therapeutic mechanism of compound Centella asiatica formula (CCA) for alleviating Schistosoma japonicum (Sj)-induced liver fibrosis in mice.
METHODS:
The active components and targets of CCA were identified using the TCMSP database with cross-analysis of Sj-related liver fibrosis targets. A "drug-component-target-pathway-disease" network was constructed using Cytoscape 3.9.1. Functional enrichment analysis (GO/KEGG) was performed using DAVID. Molecular docking study was carried out to validate interactions between the core targets and the key compounds. For experimental validation of the results, 36 mice were divided into control group, Sj-infected model group, and CCA-treated groups. In the latter two groups, liver fibrosis was induced via abdominal infection with Sj cercariae for 8 weeks, followed by 8 weeks of daily treatment with CCA decoction or saline. Hepatic pathology of the mice was assessedwith HE and Masson staining, and hepatic expressions of collagen-I and collagen-III were detected using immunohistochemistry; serum IL-6 and TNF-α levels were determined with ELISA. Hepatic expressions of TLR4 and MyD88 proteins were analyzed with Western blotting.
RESULTS:
We identified a total of 107 bioactive CCA components and 791 targets, including 37 intersection targets linked to Sj-induced fibrosis. The core targets included TNF, TP53, JUN, MMP9, and CXCL8, involving the IL-17 signaling, lipid metabolism, TLR4/MyD88 axis, and cancer pathways. Molecular docking study confirmed strong binding affinity between quercetin (a primary CCA component) and TNF/TP53/JUN/MMP9. In Sj-infected mouse models, CCA treatment significantly attenuated hepatic inflammatory cell infiltration, reduced collagen-I and collagen-III deposition, improved tissue architecture, reduced serum IL-6 and TNF-α levels, and downregulated TLR4 and MyD88 expressions in the liver.
CONCLUSIONS
CCA mitigates Sj-induced liver fibrosis by targeting TNF, TP53, JUN, and MMP9 to modulate the TLR4/MyD88 pathway, thereby suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokine release, inhibiting hepatic stellate cell activation, reducing collagen deposition, and preventing granuloma formation in the liver.
Animals
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Toll-Like Receptor 4/metabolism*
;
Mice
;
Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88/metabolism*
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Schistosoma japonicum
;
Liver Cirrhosis/parasitology*
;
Schistosomiasis japonica
;
Signal Transduction
;
Molecular Docking Simulation
;
Inflammation
;
Centella/chemistry*
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*
;
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism*
6.Effects of Hot Night Exposure on Human Semen Quality: A Multicenter Population-Based Study.
Ting Ting DAI ; Ting XU ; Qi Ling WANG ; Hao Bo NI ; Chun Ying SONG ; Yu Shan LI ; Fu Ping LI ; Tian Qing MENG ; Hui Qiang SHENG ; Ling Xi WANG ; Xiao Yan CAI ; Li Na XIAO ; Xiao Lin YU ; Qing Hui ZENG ; Pi GUO ; Xin Zong ZHANG
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(2):178-193
OBJECTIVE:
To explore and quantify the association of hot night exposure during the sperm development period (0-90 lag days) with semen quality.
METHODS:
A total of 6,640 male sperm donors from 6 human sperm banks in China during 2014-2020 were recruited in this multicenter study. Two indices (i.e., hot night excess [HNE] and hot night duration [HND]) were used to estimate the heat intensity and duration during nighttime. Linear mixed models were used to examine the association between hot nights and semen quality parameters.
RESULTS:
The exposure-response relationship revealed that HNE and HND during 0-90 days before semen collection had a significantly inverse association with sperm motility. Specifically, a 1 °C increase in HNE was associated with decreased sperm progressive motility of 0.0090 (95% confidence interval [ CI]: -0.0147, -0.0033) and decreased total motility of 0.0094 (95% CI: -0.0160, -0.0029). HND was significantly associated with reduced sperm progressive motility and total motility of 0.0021 (95% CI: -0.0040, -0.0003) and 0.0023 (95% CI: -0.0043, -0.0002), respectively. Consistent results were observed at different temperature thresholds on hot nights.
CONCLUSION
Our findings highlight the need to mitigate nocturnal heat exposure during spermatogenesis to maintain optimal semen quality.
Humans
;
Male
;
Semen Analysis
;
Adult
;
Sperm Motility
;
Hot Temperature/adverse effects*
;
China
;
Middle Aged
;
Spermatozoa/physiology*
;
Young Adult
7.Research advances in therapeutic drugs for hepatic fibrosis
Jian HUANG ; Xueqing GONG ; Yan ZENG ; Hui LI
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(10):2141-2148
Hepatic fibrosis is a chronic pathological condition characterized by hepatic stellate cell activation and excessive deposition of extracellular matrix, which would progress to liver cirrhosis and even hepatocellular carcinoma. Therefore, reversal of hepatic fibrosis is of great importance for improving quality of life and prolonging survival time. Currently, various therapeutic drugs for hepatic fibrosis have entered the stage of clinical trial. This article reviews the research advances in therapeutic drugs for hepatic fibrosis in the recent years, in order to provide insights into the treatment of hepatic fibrosis and future research directions for drugs.
8.FAN Guan-Jie's Experience in Treating Patients with Obesity Using Medicinal Cluster for Activating Blood and Removing Stasis
Hui-Yan ZENG ; Dan YU ; Sheng-Ling ZHU ; Jin-Ming ZHANG ; Wen-Wen XIE ; Guan-Jie FAN
Journal of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;41(8):2184-2188
Based on the views of FAN's Eight Dynamic-Static Sequential Methods,Professor FAN Guan-Jie believes that the obesity has the pathological factor of blood stasis in addition to qi deficiency and phlegm-damp.The compatibility of blood-activating and stasis-removing drugs for the treatment of obesity is accorded to the progression of the disease.In the clinic,Crataegi Fructus associated medicinal cluster of activating blood and removing stasis is usually recommended.The medicinal cluster is with Crataegi Fructus as the chief medicinal,and is compatible with drug pairs of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma-Carthami Flos and Moutan Cortex-Paeoniae Radix Rubra.Crataegi Fructus associated medicinal cluster is able to treat qi and blood simultaneously,mainly aimed at removing blood stasis,supplemented by nourishing blood,promoting qi and blood movement,and invigorating spleen and stomach,which has the features of simultaneous dispersing and astringency,and proper combination of static therapy and dynamic therapy,and is suitable for obese patients with blood stasis obstruction in the vessels.
9.Clinical Features and Prognosis of Secondary Intestinal Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma
Xiao-Jun CHEN ; Su-Xia LIN ; Dong-Hui GAN ; Jian-Zhen SHEN ; Yu-Min FU ; Yue YIN ; Min-Juan ZENG ; Yan-Quan LIU
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2024;32(4):1097-1105
Objective:To explore and analyze the clinical features and prognostic factors of secondary intestinal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma(SI-DLBCL),in order to provide reference for the basic research and clinical diagnosis and treatment of secondary lymphoma of rare sites in the field of hematology.Methods:The clinical data of 138 patients with SI-DLBCL admitted to Fujian Medical University Union Hospital from June 2011 to June 2022 were collected and sorted,the clinical and pathological features,diagnosis,treatment and prognosis were analyzed.Cox regression risk model was used to conduct univariate and multivariate analysis on the prognostic risk factors.Results:Among the 138 patients with SI-DLBCL included in this study,85(61.59%)were male,53(38.41%)were female,the median age of onset was 59.5(16-84)years,the clinical manifestations lacked specificity,the first-line treatment regimen was mainly chemotherapy(67.39%),94 cases(68.12%)received chemotherapy alone,40 cases(28.98%)were treated with chemotherapy combined with surgery,and 4 cases(2.90%)were treated with surgery alone.The median follow-up time was 72(1-148)months.Among the 138 patients with SI-DLBCL,79(57.25%)survived,34(24.64%)died,25 cases(18.12%)lost to follow-up,the PFS rates of 1-year,3-year and 5-year were 57.97%,49.28%and 32.61%,and the OS rates of 1-year,3-year and 5-year were 60.14%,54.35%and 34.06%,respectively.The results of univariate Cox regression analysis showed that age,Lugano stage and IPI score were the influencing factors of OS in SI-DLBCL patients,and age,Lugano stage and IPI score were the influencing factors of PFS in SI-DLBCL patients.The results of multivariate Cox analysis showed that Lugano stage was an independent prognostic factor affecting OS and PFS in SI-DLBCL patients.Conclusion:Patients with SI-DLBCL are more common in middle-aged and elderly men,and the early clinical manifestations lack specificity,and the first-line treatment regimen is mainly R-CHOP chemotherapy,and Lugano stage is an independent prognostic factor affecting OS and PFS in SI-DLBCL patients.
10.Psychological nursing contributes to the prognosis of the male patients with urethral riding injury treated by ureteroscopic urethral catheter implantation
Shu-Ya YAN ; Lin-Lin DAI ; Hui-Fen ZHANG ; Yue YANG ; Si-Jun ZENG ; Yan ZHANG ; Ying-Zi HUANG
National Journal of Andrology 2024;30(5):435-438
Objective:To explore the effect of psychological nursing on the prognosis of male patients with urethral riding inju-ry treated by ureteroscopic urethral catheter implantation(UCI).Methods:This study included 63 male patients with urethral strad-dle injury treated in the General Hospital of Southern Theater Command from February 2020 to March 2023.We divided the patients into a control(n=29)and an experimental group(n=34)according to the odd-or even-numbered days of admission and treated them by ureteroscopic UCI.Meanwhile those of the former group received routine nursing care and the latter underwent psychological nursing intervention in addition.We obtained the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale(SAS)and Self-Rating Depression Scale(SDS)scores of the patients,recorded their postoperative pain scores,catheter-removal time,hospitalization days,postoperative complications and o-verall recovery status,and compared the data collected between the two groups.Results:At 3 days after surgery,both the SAS and SDS scores were significantly lower in the experimental group than in the control(SAS:45.2±2.9 vs 50.4±3.6,P<0.05;SDS:41.9±2.5 vs 48.3±4.0,P<0.05),and so were the pain scores at24 hours(6.2±0.6 vs 6.8±0.9,P<0.05),48 hours(4.9±0.7 vs 6.1±0.8,P<0.05)and 72 hours after surgery(2.5±0.6 vs 3.9±0.9,P<0.05).The hospitalization time was remarkably shorter in the experimental than in the control group([14.1±2.9]vs[16.1±3.4]d,P<0.05),but there was no statistically significant difference in the time of postoperative catheterization between the two groups of patients([19.3±3.7]vs[19.6±4.4]d,P>0.05).A30-day postoperative follow-up found2 cases of difficult urination in the control group but no com-plications in the experimental group.Conclusion:Ureteroscopic UCI is a safe,effective and minimally invasive treatment method for male urethral riding injury,and psychological nursing helps not only shorten the time of catheterization and hospitalization but also a-void postoperative complications.

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