Diabetic kidney disease （DKD） is a common microvascular complication of diabetics mellitus （DM） and the leading cause of end-stage renal disease （ESRD）. Renal interstitial fibrosis （RIF） is the primary pathological basis for DKD progression to ESRD， which significantly increases the mortality rate of DKD patients and burdens patients and society， and it is thus a clinical problem that needs to be solved urgently. The pathogenesis of RIF is complex and mainly associated with excessive deposition of extracellular matrix （ECM）， epithelial-mesenchymal transition （EMT）， oxidative stress， inflammation， and autophagy. Multiple signaling pathways such as transforming growth factor-β₁/Smad （TGF-β₁/Smad）， nuclear transcription factor-κB （NF-κB）， p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase （p38 MAPK）， secretory glycoprotein/β-catenin （Wnt/β-catenin）， mammalian target of rapamycin （mTOR）， Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription （JAK/STAT）， neurogenic site-gap homologous protein （Notch）， and nuclear factor E₂-associated factor 2 （Nrf2） mediate the development of RIF， which are currently novel targets for DKD therapy. Due to the complexity of its pathogenesis， the current Western medical treatment mainly focuses on essential treatment to improve metabolism， which has poor efficacy and is difficult to prevent the progression of DKD， so it is significant to find new treatment methods clinically. In recent years， many studies have proved that traditional Chinese medicine can alleviate oxidative stress， inhibit inflammatory response， and regulate cellular autophagy by modulating relevant signaling pathways， so as to treat RIF in DKD， which has the advantages of multi-pathway， multi-targeting， multi-linking， and significant therapeutic efficacy. However， there is still a lack of relevant summary. By reviewing the latest research reports in China and abroad， this article examines the roles of the signaling pathways mentioned above in the occurrence and development of RIF in DKD and the recent research progress in the intervention of RIF in DKD by traditional Chinese medicine via these pathways， aiming to provide new ideas and references for further scientific research and clinical practice.

OBJECTIVE To observe the clinical efficacy of Erdong Xiaoke Formula in the treatment of type 2 diabetes dry eyes with yin deficiency and heat excess syndrome and its effect on serum interleukin 17(IL-17)and interleukin 1β(IL-1β),and to ex-plore the therapeutic mechanism of Erdong Xiaoke Formula.METHODS 110 cases of type 2 diabetes patients with dry eyes of yin deficiency and heat excess syndrome from Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine were enrolled and randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group,55 cases each.5 cases dropped out of the treatment group and 4 cases dropped out of the control group.The control group was given a basic hypoglycemic regimen combined with topical sodium hyaluronate eye drops.The treatment group was given Erdong Xiaoke Formula in addition to the treatment in the control group.The treatment course for both groups was 4 weeks.Changes in TCM syndrome scores of the two groups of patients were observed before and after treatment,and the clinical effica-cy of TCM was evaluated.Blood glucose and pancreatic islet function-related indicators[fasting blood glucose(FBG),fasting insulin(FINS),fasting C-peptide(FCP),postprandial 2 h blood glucose(PBG),insulin secretion function index(HOMA-β),insulin re-sistance index(HOMA)-IR)],ocular surface indicators[tear break up time(BUT),corneal sodium fluorescein staining(FL),Schirmer Ⅰ test(SⅠT)],and inflammation-related indicators(IL-17,IL-1β)were detected.The occurrence of adverse reactions in the two groups of patients was observed during the treatment period.RESULTS After treatment,the total scores of TCM syn-dromes in both groups were significantly reduced(P＜0.01),the treatment group was better than the control group(P＜0.01),and the total effective rate of TCM syndromes in the treatment group was higher than that of the control group(P＜0.01);SⅠT and BUT of pa-tients in both groups increased significantly(P＜0.01),and the treatment group was better than the control group(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);the FL of patients in both groups significantly reduced(P＜0.01),and there was no significant difference between the groups;the ser-um IL-17 and IL-1β of the patients in the treatment group decreased significantly(P＜0.01),which was significantly better than that of the control group(P＜0.05).There were no significant changes in blood glucose and pancreatic islet function-related indicators in the two groups before and after treatment(P＞0.05).During the treatment,no obvious adverse reactions were observed in the two groups.CONCLUSION Erdong Xiaoke Formula can improve SⅠT,BUT,FL and eye symptoms in patients with diabetic dry eye,effectively treat diabetic dry eye,and reduce ocular surface inflammation.Its mechanism may be related to reducing serum inflammato-ry factors IL-17 and IL-1β.

Diabetic kidney disease(DKD)is one of the serious microvascular complications of diabetes.Immune disorder-mediated chronic inflammation is an essential mechanism underlying the occurrence of DKD.Macrophages,as important participants in the immune-inflammatory response,can polarize into the pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype and anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype under different microenvironments.The two are functionally antagonistic to each other.They can be transformed into each other in different developmental stages of DKD,which is similar to the connotation of yin and yang in the theory of"yin-yang theory"in TCM,such as restriction of opposites,mutual root and mutual use,balance of growth and decline,and mutual transformation.The imbalance of M1 and M2 macrophages is an important factor leading to DKD inflammatory response and renal fibrosis.Therefore,based on the yin-yang theory in TCM,this article clarified the effects of macrophage polarization on DKD,and proposed that the basic treatment method is to"tonify deficiency and damage excess"to adjust the polarization of macrophages and restore the balance of yin and yang,in order to provide ideas for the clinical treatment of DKD.

This study aimed at investigating the effects of Chinese herbal compound Qi Kui granules on urine protein and inflammatory markers in patients with type 2 diabetic nephropathy (DN) based on the treatment of regular western medication.A randomized,parallel controlled method was involved in the present trial,and patients diagnosed with type 2 DN were randomly divided into the Chinese herb group and the control group.Regular treatment of angiotensin Ⅱ receptor blocker (ARB) in western medicine was administered in the two groups with the additional treatment of Qi Kui granules for the Chinese herb group.All the patients revisited the doctor every 4 weeks during the observation period within a 12-week course of the observation.Urinary albumin to creatinine ratio (UACR),urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER) and inflammatory cytokines in the two groups were determined.As a result,seventy-two patients in aggregate were included in the study,while 32 patients of the control group and 31 patients of the Chinese herb group effectively accomplished the observation.After the 12-week treatments,UACR and UAER were significantly decreased in the two groups (P ＜ 0.01),while the efficacy of the Chinese herb group was better than that of the control group (P ＜ 0.05).Compared with the control group,the levels of serum IL-6,tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α),transforming growth factor f1 (TGF-f1) and urinary monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP-1) / Cr significantly decreased after the 12-week treatment (P ＜ 0.01).It was concluded that the Chinese herbal compound Qi Kui granules successfully mitigated proteinuria in DN patients.The improvement of glomerular inflammation for renoprotection should be the mechanism behind this.

[Objective]To summarize the clinical experience of Professor YU Jiangyi in the treatment of subacute thyroiditis.[Methods]This article expounds professor YU Jiangyi's experience in treating this disease from the aspects of etiology and pathogenesis of SAT, traditional western medicine therapy and traditional Chinese medicine therapy, integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine therapy, TCM syndrome differentiation ,stage of SAT and so on. In order to better describe this therapy, clinical cases were reported.[Results]Under the guidance of the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, Professor YU Jiangyi thought that the cause of the disease was mainly emotional internal injury, deficiency of Qi and blood, coupled with the feeling of external evil or exerting internal injuries. And the clinical symptoms of SAT were reduced to heat warm, stagnation of Qi and fire or stagnation of Qi and phlegm obstruction and syndrome of deficiency of Qi and Yin in two. In combination with modern medical knowledge, Professor YU Jiangyi put forward the combination of traditional Chinese medicine and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Professor YU Jiangyi used the method of clearing away heat and detoxicating, detumescence, and Etoricoxib in the treatment of SAT. In clinically, the curative effect was remarkable. [Conclusion]Professor YU Jiangyi's combination of clearing away heat and toxic swelling and Etoricoxib is effective, urgent treatment with western medicine, treating the root for slow disease with Chinese medicine, and worthy of inheritance and promotion.

Objective Toinvestigate the related risk factors of newly diagnosed diabetes among residents aged over 40 years in Nanjing City , and to provide evidence for diabetes prevention. Methods The clinical data were collected from the diabetes epidemiologic investigation among residents aged 40 -79 years from 6 communities in Nanjing City. Univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to analyze the potential risk factors for newly diagnosed diabetes. Results The prevalence rate of new diagnosed diabetes from 8039 subjects was 10.87%. A higher prevalence rate of new diagnosed diabetes was found in male than that in female (13.15% vs. 9.74%, P < 0.01). Multiple logistic regression analyses revealed that the main risk factors for newly diagnosed diabetes were male, age, family history, body mass index (BMI) and less physical activity after adjusting other factors (adjusted OR 1.339-1.862, P < 0.05). Conclusions Male, age, family history, body mass index (BMI) and less physical activity may be the main risk factors for diabetes among residents in Nanjing City.

Objective To observe the clinical effect of Xiaoke-Yuzu decoction on diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). Methods A total of 100 DPN inpatients were recruited and randomly divided into the treatment and control groups. The two groups were both received basic therapy, while the treatment group additionally received Xiaoke-Yuzu decoction. Toronto clinical scores and Chinese medicine symptom scores of both groups were collected to evaluate the clinical effect before and after the therapy. Results The Toronto scores of treatment group were significantly lower than control group after treatment (symptoms score 1.50 ± 0.94 vs. 2.23 ± 1.01, reflection score 3.60 ± 1.77 vs. 4.27 ± 1.72, feeling test score 1.53 ± 0.63 vs. 2.10 ± 0.84,all P<0.05). Meanwhile, the Chinese medicine symptom scores of treatment group were also significantly lower than the control group (main symptom score 1.77 ± 1.17 vs. 3.17 ± 1.82, posterior symptom score 2.23 ± 1.59 vs. 4.27 ± 1.57, the tongue and pulse score 1.83 ± 0.65 vs. 2.47 ± 0.51, all P<0.05). Conclusion Xiaoke-Yuzu decoction plus basic therpy could improve the clinical symptoms of DPN patients.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of epalrestat, an aldose reductase inhibitor, and epalrestat plus methylcobalamine on diabetic peripheral neuropathy, as compared with methylcobalamine. Methods A total of 444 subjects with diabetic neuropathy were enrolled in the study, and divided into methylcobalamine group ( n= 145 ) , epalrestat group ( n = 143 ) , and methylcobalamine combined with epalrestat group ( n = 156 ) . Therapeutic efficacay was assessed in terms of clinical symptoms and physical examinations by using Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument ( MNSI ) , and electrophysiological assessments. Results After 4 to 12-weeks′treatment, symptoms and signs of neuropathy ( using MNSI ) are significantly improved in the three groups ( P<0. 01). The mean changes of MNSI ( questionnaire) score from baseline were higher in epalrestat group and methylcobalamine combined with epalrestat group as compared with that of methylcobalamine group(P<0. 05), but no difference was detected in the change of MNSI ( physical examination ) score from baseline among three groups. After treatment for 12 weeks, motor nerve conduction velocity ( MNCV ) was significantly improved in epalrestat group and methylcobalamine combined with epalrestat group(P<0. 05), but no difference was detected in MNCV at 12 week among three groups(P>0. 05). Conclusion Epalrestat is effective and safe in the treatment of diabetic neuropathy. Furthermore, epalrestat is more efficacious in ameliorating symptoms and MNCV of neuropathy than methylcobalamine. However, while no improved efficacy is shown with the combined treatment.

Objective To investigate the effects ofLiuwei-Dihuang Pills combined with Ginkgo Biloba Leaves Extract Tablets on diabetic complications in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods Seventy-eight patients with T2DM were randomized into a TCM treatment group and a conventional treatment group by random number table method, 39 in each group. The patients in the conventional treatment group were regularly using antihyperglycemic drugs or insulin. On the basis of conventional treatment group, the patients in the TCM treatment group were additionally treated withLiuwei-Dihuang Pills and Ginkgo Biloba Leaves Extract Tablets. Intima-media thickness (IMT) of internal carotid artery, vibration perception threshold (VPT) and diabetic retinopathy in both groups were detected before the treatment, 12 and 36 months after the treatment.Results The VPT in the left foot 12 months after the treatment in the TCM treatment group were significantly lower than that in the conventional treatment group (13.98 ±4.38 Vvs. 18.70 ±2.43 V;t=2.764, P=0.008). IMT of internal carotid artery (left: 0.81 ± 0.16 mmvs.0.70 ± 0.10 mm,t=3.120,P=0.003; right: 0.81 ± 0.17 mmvs. 0.73 ± 0.12 mm,t=2.286,P=0.026), VPT (left foot: 14.82 ± 6.45 Vvs. 20.63 ± 9.75 V,t=2.714, P=0.009; right foot: 16.73 ± 7.10 Vvs. 20.73 ± 10.35 V,t=2.001,P=0.048) and incidence of diabetic retinopathy (35.9%vs. 53.8%;χ2=5.804,P=0.016) 36 months after the treatment in the TCM treatment group were significantly lower than those in the conventional treatment group.ConclusionsLiuwei-Dihuang Pills combined with Ginkgo Biloba Leaves Extract Tablets can effectively reduce the progression of diabetic complications in patients with T2DM.

ABSTRACTOBJECTIVE To observe the treating effect of Huobahuagen tablets in intervening diabetic nephropathy in clinical stage and the influence on the level of serum HGF.METHODS DN patients in clinical stage were divided into two groupsthe treatment groupHuobahuagen tablets together with Irbesartan capsules and the control groupIrbesartan capsuleswith 30 cases in each group.The control group was given Irbesartan capsule150 mg every day in the morning for once and the pa-tients took it with an empty stomach.The treatment groupbesides taking the same medicine as prescribed for the control groupwas also given Huobahuagen tablets3 tablets a day for three times 0.5h after each meal.FPG2 hPGHbA1cTGTCLDL?CHDL?Cblood SCrurine ACRUTPHGF level were tested.RESULTS ACRUTPSBPDBPblood fatand SCr in both groups decreased after the treatmentP <0.05~0.01 and the decrease in the treatment group was sharper than that in the control groupP <0.05~0.01.The total effective rate in the treatment group was better in the treatment group83.3% vs 40%P <0.01.HGF levels in both group increased after the treatmentP <0.01.HGF level in the treat-ment group showed more increase compared with that of the control groupP <0.01.CONCLUSION Huobahuagen tablets can effectively lower the level of blood creatinine and the rate of urinary albumin excretionincrease the level of serum HGFand possibly slow down DN progression.