1.Pathogenesis Evolution and Stage-based Treatment of Gout: An Exploration Based on Theory of ''Endogenous Dampness Leading to Bi Syndrome''
Yingjie ZHANG ; Fan YANG ; Ruifang YANG ; Zhuoming ZHENG ; Siwei PENG ; Yan XIAO ; Peng CHEN ; Youxin SU ; Jiemei GUO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(7):74-83
Gout is a crystal-associated arthropathy caused by the deposition of monosodium urate crystals and is closely related to purine metabolic disorders and impaired uric acid excretion. It is clinically characterized by hyperuricemia, recurrent joint swelling and pain, and tophus formation. The disease course is divided into three stages: The hyperuricemia stage, acute attack stage, and chronic gouty arthritis stage. Modern medicine has reached a consensus on its pathology, but traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) lacks a systematic stage-specific understanding of gout pathogenesis and its underlying mechanisms, making it difficult to guide precise syndrome differentiation and treatment. By integrating classical TCM theory, clinical practice, and modern medical understanding, and drawing upon descriptions of Bi syndrome caused by endogenous dampness and turbidity in classical texts such as Huangdi Neijing·Ling Shu and Synopsis of the Golden Chamber, our team proposes the pathogenic concept of gout as ''endogenous dampness leading to Bi syndrome'' and the core pathogenesis of ''spleen deficiency with internal retention of dampness-turbidity''. We systematically elucidate the evolution of pathogenesis across different stages and corresponding therapeutic strategies. This study posits that metabolic byproducts such as urate fall under the category of ''endogenous pathogenic dampness-turbidity''. When genetic or dietary factors lead to metabolic abnormalities, it manifests as ''spleen deficiency with impaired transport and transformation'', resulting in ''internal retention of pathogenic dampness-turbidity''. When damp-turbidity stagnates in the blood vessels, serum uric acid levels rise. When it stagnates in the viscera and limbs, monosodium urate crystals deposit in the joints. Triggered by precipitating factors, this leads to gout attacks—the core pathological process of ''endogenous dampness leading to Bi syndrome''. Based on this theory, the stage-specific pathogenic characteristics of gout are proposed: The hyperuricemia stage is characterized by ''spleen deficiency with impaired transport and transformation, internal retention of pathogenic dampness-turbidity'', the acute attack stage is primarily marked by ''dampness-turbidity and static heat obstructing the limbs and joints'', while the chronic stage is defined by ''spleen deficiency with internal retention of pathogenic dampness-turbidity, intermingled with phlegm-stasis binding''. The treatment principle centers on ''strengthening the spleen and draining dampness'' throughout all stages. During the hyperuricemia stage, treatment focuses on ''strengthening the spleen, draining dampness, and eliminating turbidity''. In the acute attack stage, the treatment should "strengthen the spleen, drain dampness, clear heat, eliminate turbidity, alleviate swelling, and relieve pain''. In the chronic stage, the treatments emphasizes to ''strengthen the spleen, drain dampness, transform turbidity, clear heat, resolve phlegm, and activate blood circulation''. This approach has yielded favorable therapeutic outcomes in clinical practice. This theoretical system clarifies the nature of gout as ''spleen deficiency being the root, dampness-turbidity being the secondary manifestation'' and systematically analyzes its pathogenesis evolution process and characteristics. The constructed stage-based treatment protocol has been validated through clinical and basic research, providing systematic theoretical guidance and a practical framework for the precise TCM management of gout, thereby promoting the modernization of TCM pathogenesis theory related to gout.
2.Analysis of Chronic Gouty Arthritis Animal Models Based on Clinical Characteristics of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine
Yan XIAO ; Siyuan LIN ; Fan YANG ; Qianglong CHEN ; Xiaohua CHEN ; Meiling WANG ; Zhen ZHANG ; Jiali LUO ; Youxin SU ; Jiemei GUO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(7):84-92
ObjectiveBased on the clinical characteristics of chronic gouty arthritis (CGA) in both traditional Chinese and western medicine, this study aims to systematically evaluate the clinical concordance of existing CGA animal models, providing recommendations for establishing animal models that align with the pathological characteristics of CGA and the manifestations of traditional Chinese medicine syndromes. MethodsBy comprehensively retrieving Chinese and international databases such as China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, VIP Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database (VIP), and PubMed, all relevant literature on CGA animal models was collected. Based on the guidelines, the diagnostic criteria of both traditional Chinese and western medicine were summarized and organized. The evaluation indicators for the CGA model were constructed with reference to existing evaluation modes, and the CGA animal models were analyzed to systematically evaluate the clinical concordance of existing models. ResultsThe current methods used to construct CGA animal models mainly include monosodium urate crystal induction, high-protein diet induction (poultry lack urate oxidase), and high-fat diet combined with urate oxidase inhibitors and joint injection. Based on 11 pieces of included literature, the traditional Chinese and western medicine scoring data of each model were extracted, and the average scoring values of all models were ultimately calculated. The results show that the average clinical concordances of existing CGA animal models in both traditional Chinese and western medicine are 43.33% and 64.44%, respectively. Among them, the model with the highest clinical concordance rate is the one with a high-fat diet combined with potassium oxonate to induce hyperuricemia plus joint injection, achieving 83.33% clinical concordance in western medicine and 60% in traditional Chinese medicine. This model aligns well with the pathogenic characteristics and pathological changes of clinical CGA. ConclusionAlthough current CGA animal models can simulate some pathological characteristics of CGA, they struggle to comprehensively reflect the complex pathological processes of CGA and the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine syndromes. Therefore, in the future, it is necessary to establish the CGA animal models that incorporate the clinical disease and syndrome characteristics of traditional Chinese and western medicine and formulate the uniform model evaluation criteria, providing more precise tools for CGA mechanism research and the development of traditional Chinese medicine.
3.Mechanism of Huazhuo Sanjie Chubi Presciption in Regulating Macrophage Polarization and Improving Low-grade Inflammation in Rats with Chronic Gouty Arthritis
Yuwan LI ; Yingjie ZHANG ; Siyuan LIN ; Xiaohua CHEN ; Qianglong CHEN ; Fan YANG ; Jun LIU ; Bingyan CHEN ; Peng CHEN ; Jiemei GUO ; Youxin SU ; Yan XIAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(7):93-104
ObjectiveTo evaluate the therapeutic effect of Huazhuo SanJie Chubi presciption (HSCD) on chronic gouty arthritis (CGA) rats with low-grade inflammation and to explore the underlying mechanism with a focus on macrophage polarization. MethodsThe 41 male 6-week-old SD rats were randomly allocated, using the random number table, to a normal group (n=8) and a model group (n =33). CGA with low-grade inflammation was induced in the model group by daily gavage of potassium oxonate (250 mg·kg-1·d-1) and hypoxanthine (300 mg·kg-1·d-1), combined with intra-articular injection of a monosodium urate (MSU) crystal suspension (50 μL, 25 g·L-¹) into the left ankle twice weekly. After 4 weeks of modeling, 3 rats were randomly selected from each group for model validation. The remaining successfully modeled rats were randomly divided into a model group, an HSCD group (10.35 g·kg-1·d-1, gavage once daily), an M1 polarization agonist group (L-methionine sulfoximine, 300 mg·kg-1, subcutaneous injection every other day), an M1 polarization agonist + HSCD group, an M2 polarization inhibitor group (PD0325901, 10 mg·kg-1·d-1, gavage once daily), and M2 polarization inhibitor + HSCD group. The corresponding drug or drug combination was administered according to group assignment, whereas rats in the normal and model groups received 0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose sodium (CMC-Na) vehicle (10.35 g·kg-1·d-1, gavage once daily). All interventions were continued for four weeks. During the intervention period, except for the normal group, potassium oxonate (250 mg·kg⁻¹) and hypoxanthine (300 mg·kg-1) were co-administered by gavage every other day to maintain the model. At the end of treatment, serum uric acid (SUA), ankle joint diameter and joint swelling index were measured. The levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), chemokine C-C motif ligand 2 (CCL2), S100 calcium-binding protein A8/A9 (S100A8/A9), interleukin-10 (IL-10) and arginase-1 (Arg-1) in serum and joint fluid were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). High-frequency ultrasound was used to assess MSU deposition in the ankle joint. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was performed to evaluate synovial histopathological changes. Quantitative Real-time PCR and immunofluorescence were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression of the M1 macrophage polarization markers inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and the M2 macrophage polarization marker scavenger receptor cysteine-rich type 1 protein M130 (CD163) in synovial tissue. ResultsCompared with the normal group, the model group showed significantly elevated SUA level and joint swelling index, and increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, CCL2, and S100A8/A9 in both serum and joint fluid (P<0.05), accompanied by MSU deposition and synovial inflammation in the ankle joint. The mRNA and protein expression levels of macrophage polarization M1/M2 markers iNOS and CD163 in synovial tissues were also significantly up-regulated (P<0.05). Compared with model group, rats in HSCD group had significantly lower SUA levels, attenuated joint swelling, reduced serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and decreased levels of CCL2 and S100A8/A9 in both serum and joint fluid, accompanied with alleviated MSU deposition and synovial inflammation (P<0.05). HSCD markedly downregulated the mRNA and protein expression of M1 marker iNOS (P<0.05), whereas it had no significant effect on the expression of M2 marker CD163. Compared with the M1 polarization agonist group, the M1 polarization agonist + HSCD group showed significantly reduced joint swelling, lower serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and decreased levels of CCL2 and S100A8/A9 in joint fluid (P<0.05). In addition, synovial inflammatory cell infiltration and angiogenesis were attenuated, and iNOS mRNA and protein expression levels were significantly reduced (P<0.05). Compared with the M2 polarization inhibitor group, the M2 polarization inhibitor + HSCD group exhibited reduced joint swelling, decreased levels of CCL2 and S100A8/A9 in joint fluid and ameliorated synovial inflammation (P<0.05), whereas the levels of anti-inflammatory mediators (IL-10, Arg-1) and CD163 mRNA and protein expression were not significantly increased. ConclusionHSCD alleviates low-grade inflammation in CGA rats, at least in part, by inhibiting macrophage polarization toward the M1 phenotype.
4.Effect and Action Mechanism of Huazhuo Sanjie Chubi Prescription on Gouty Bone Erosion Model Rats Based on PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway
Zhuoming ZHENG ; Jun LIU ; Meiling WANG ; Xiaohua CHEN ; Yuwan LI ; Siwei PENG ; Yingjie ZHANG ; Ruifang YANG ; Youxin SU ; Yan XIAO ; Jiemei GUO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(7):105-117
ObjectiveThis paper aims to observe the effect of Huazhuo Sanjie Chubi prescription (HSCD) on the gouty bone erosion model rats and investigate its action mechanism. MethodsThirty-six two-month-old male SD rats were randomly divided into the blank group with nine rats and the modeling group with 27 rats. The rats in the modeling group were administered hypoxanthine solution at 300 mg·kg-1·d-1 and potassium oxonate solution at 250 mg·kg-1·d-1, combined with intra-articular injection of 200 μL monosodium urate (MSU) crystal suspension at 25 g·L-1 into the right ankle joint (joint injection once every three days), so as to induce the gouty bone erosion model. After four weeks of modeling, three rats were selected from these two groups to validate the model. The modeled 24 rats were randomly divided into the model group, HSCD group (10.35 g·kg-1·d-1), allopurinol group (20 mg·kg-1·d-1), and inhibitor group (LY294002, 10 mg·kg-1·d-1), with six rats per group. Except for the blank group, rats in all other groups continued to receive hypoxanthine solution at 300 mg·kg-1 and potassium oxonate solution at 250 mg·kg-1 via gavage concurrently with administration to maintain modeling intervention. The rats in the HSCD group and allopurinol group received administration by gavage at the above doses. The rats in the inhibitor group received an intraperitoneal injection at the above dose. The rats in the blank group and model group received saline (10.35 g·kg-1·d-1) by gavage for four consecutive weeks. After administration, ankle joint swelling of the rats in all groups was observed, and the diameters were measured. Bone volume fraction (BV/TV) and bone surface area to bone volume (BS/BV) were observed and quantitatively analyzed by Micro-CT. Histopathological changes in the ankle joint were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and safranin O-fast green staining. The uric acid in the rats' serum was determined by enzyme colorimetry. The levels of inflammatory factors, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The protein expressions of receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) and phosphorylated (p)-phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) in ankle joint tissues of rats were detected by immunofluorescence staining. The mRNA levels of the proteins related to the bone erosion, including RANKL, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase
5.Demoralization and quality of life in malignant tumor patients: the mediating role of rumination thinking
Yongrong XU ; Li YANG ; Lingxia MA ; Xia HUANG ; Jiemei GAN
Chinese Journal of Practical Nursing 2024;40(8):583-588
Objective:To explore the mediating role of rumination thinking between demoralization and quality of life in malignant tumor patients, provide guidance and reference for helping tumor patients overcome rumination thinking and demoralization and improve quality of life.Methods:From February 2020 to June 2022, 189 patients with malignant tumors admitted to the Department of Oncology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University were selected by convenience sampling method as the research objects, and a cross-sectional survey was conducted using general information questionnaire, Demoralization Scale-Mandarin Version, Ruminative Responses Scale, Punctional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General.Results:Among 189 malignant tumor patients, there were 102 males, 87 females, aged (43.54 ± 13.12) years old. The total score of loss of demoralization was (34.37 ± 10.34) points, the total score of rumination thinking was (41.01 ± 17.10) points, the total score of quality of life was (48.51 ± 15.41) points. The Pearson analysis results showed that the total score of demoralization in malignant tumor patients was negatively correlated with the total score of quality of life ( r = -0.502, P<0.01); the total score of rumination thinking was negatively correlated with the total score of quality of life ( r = -0.465, P<0.01), and the total score of demoralization was positively correlated with the total score of rumination thinking ( r = 0.628, P<0.01). Bootstrap mediation test results showed that ruminant thinking played a partial mediating effect between demoralization and quality of life of patients with malignant tumors, accounted for 30.9% of the total effect. Conclusions:Rumination plays a partially mediating role in the demoralization and quality of life of patients with malignant tumors, suggesting that clinical staff can improve the quality of life of patients with tumors by developing a systematic and comprehensive cognitive-behavioral intervention strategy to improve the demoralization and rumination.
6.Rapid Health Technology Assessment of Albumin-bound Paclitaxel in the Treatment of Breast Cancer
Jiemei JIANG ; Yalu WANG ; Chunlan YANG ; Lijuan FENG ; Ruonan CHEN ; Xi CAO ; Peng MEN ; Yiheng YANG ; Suodi ZHAI ; Quan XIA
China Pharmacy 2021;32(13):1611-1616
OBJECTIVE:To evaluate th e effectiveness ,safety and economy of albu min-bound paclitaxel (nab-PTX)in the treatment of breast cancer by using rapid health technology assessment (HTA),and to provide evidence-based reference for drug selection. METHODS :Retrieved from PubMed ,the Cochrane Library ,CNKI,Wangfang database and other databases ,systematic evaluation/Meta-analysis,HTA and pharmacoeconomic studies about nab-PTX in the treatment of breast cancer were included ;the conclusions were classified and analyzed by using descriptive analysis. RESULTS :A total of 5 systematic reviews/Meta-analysis , 8 pharmacoeconomic studies were included in this study. Compared with conventional taxanes ,nab-PTX increased pathological complete response (pCR)rate [OR =1.39,95%CI(1.16,1.67),P<0.001] and event-free survival (EFS)[HR=0.69,95%CI(0.57, 0.85),P<0.001] in neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC)-treated breast cancer patients. However ,there were no significant differences in overall survival (OS),progression-free survival (PFS),objective response rate (ORR)and disease control rate (DCR)in metastatic breast cancer (MBC)patients between 2 groups. In the terms of safety ,nab-PTX increased the incidence of grade 3-4 sensory neuropathy [OR =1.89,95%CI(1.36,2.61),P<0.001] in MBC patients ,and increased the incidence of neutropenia [OR = 1.52,95%CI(1.23,1.88,P<0.001],sensory neuropathy [OR = 2.17,95%CI(1.38,3.40),P<0.001],rash [OR =1.46,95%CI mei1213@163.com (1.18,1.80),P<0.001] and fatigue [OR =1.28,95%CI(1.04, 1.56), P=0.02] in NAC -treated breast cancer patients.Pharmacoeconomic studies showed that nab-PTX could improve the quality adjusted lif e years of MBC patients compared with traditional taxanes ,and it was a economical option. CONCLUSIONS:Nab-PTX enhances pCR in NAC-treated breast cancer patients ,but has no significant advantage in the effectiveness of MBC patients ,and increases the occurrence of ADR. Nab-PTX may have a cost-utility advantage over conventional taxanes for MBC.
7.Exosomes secreted from IFN-γprestimulated hUC-MSCs induce regulatory T cells
Xiangyu YANG ; Xiaohong LI ; Jing XIAO ; Jiemei HU ; Juan FENG ; Ran HUO ; Guodong HE ; Yueheng WU ; Xiyong YU
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2017;33(1):45-51
Aim To investigate whether human umbili-cal cord mesenchymal stem cells(hUC-MSCs)exposed to inflammatory conditions could release large amounts of exosomes to induce regulatory T cells(Treg).Meth-ods hUC-MSCs were isolated by enzyme digestion method.(In vitro)interferonγ(IFN-γ)was added in-to hUC-MSCs to mimic inflammatory microenviron-ments,then exosomes were extracted from the superna-tant of normal conditional medium or IFN-γpretreated hUC-MSCs.Both sources of exosomes,Nor-hUC-exo and IFN-γ-stimulated hUC-exo, were identified by Nanoparticle Trafficking Analysis (NTA )and Western blot for the exosome-enriched protein CD63 .Next,hu-man peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs ) stimulated with PHA were respectively co-cultured with hUC-MSCs,IFN-γ-pretreated-hUC-MSCs,hUC-MSCs exosomes or IFN-γ-stimulated-hUC-MSCs exosomes for 5 days to assess the exosomes-T cells communication. The proliferation rate of PBMCs and frequency of CD4 +/CD25 +/Foxp3 + Treg were measured by flow cytometry.Results The isolated cells from human um-bilical cord tissue,which were positive for CD73, CD44,CD29,CD90 and HLA-ABC,but were nega-tive for CD31 and CD34,were mesenchymal stem cells indeed.After IFN-γtreatment,hUC-MSCs secreted nu-merous exosomes(P<0.05 ).Morerover,there was a significantly higher level of CD63 ,but no difference in diameter between Nor-hUC-exo and IFN-γ-stimulated hUC-exo.IFN-γ-stimulated hUC-exo had a superior a-bility compared with Nor-hUC-exo to suppress the pro-liferation of PHA stimulated PBMCs due to their upreg-ulation of the percentage of Treg (1 1.53 ±0.88% vs 6.60 ±0.56%,P <0.01 ).Conclusion hUC-MSCs could promote the expression of Treg to modulate im-munosuppression through exosomes,especially for IFN-γ-licenced exosomes,which might carry much immu-notherapeutic potential.
8.Effects of companion support on insulin pump therapy in adolescents with type 1 diabetes
Guiqin GU ; Juntao CHI ; Lei YANG ; Jiemei XIE
Chinese Journal of Modern Nursing 2017;23(13):1767-1770
ObjectiveTo explore the effects of companion support on insulin pump therapy in adolescents with type 1 diabetes.Methods A total of 60 patients were randomly divided into experimental group and control group,30 cases respectively. Patients in control group were given routine education,while patients in experimental group received additional intervention of companion support. Changes of blood glucose,the occurrence of negative events during the use of insulin pump and standardized usage of insulin pump were compared between two groups. Blood glucose before sleep in one random day was recorded and the fluctuation of blood glucose was compared between two groups.Results After six months,fasting and postprandial blood glucose,glycated hemoglobin and the occurrence of negative events during the use of insulin pump in experimental group were significantly lower than those in control group (P<0.05). The waveform stability at one random day before sleep of experimental group was better than that of control group.Conclusions Companion support plays curial roles in controlling blood glucose, improves the standardization of insulin pump operation and effectively reduces the negative events in adolescents with type 1 diabetes undergoing temporary insulin pump therapy.
9.Effects of health education based on health belief model in elderly patients with 0 grade diabetic foot
Jiemei XIE ; Guiqin GU ; Juntao CHI ; Lei YANG
Chinese Journal of Modern Nursing 2017;23(35):4473-4477
Objective To explore the effects of health education based on health belief model in elderly patients with 0 grade diabetic foot. Methods Elderly patients with 0 grade diabetic foot of endocrinology ward were selected by convenience sampling in Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Shandong Province as subjects form 1st January to 31st March 2014. Patients were divided into observation group (n=49) and control group (n=51) with the random number table. On the end of the study, there were 47 patients in observation group and 42 in control group. Patients of both groups all received the same treatment and knowledge education during hospitalization. After discharge, monthly telephone follow-up was carried out for patients in control group along with answering questions, while health education based on health belief model was applied for patients in observation group. The glucose and TG control condition, self-care behavior and foot situation were compared between two groups. Results Six months and three years after intervention, the fasting plasma glucose (FPG), plasma glucose two hours after glucose load (2hPG), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), triglyceride (TG) of patients in observation group were lower than those in control group with significant differences (P< 0.05). Three years after intervention, the diabetes self-care behavior of patients in observation group was significantly better than that in control group (P<0.05); the situation of ulcer/infection, deformity, blister/callosum, xerosis cutis/chapped skin, pain/twitch of lower limbs and anaesthesia in the foot of patients in observation group was better than those in control group with significant differences (P<0.05). Conclusions The health education based on health belief model for elderly patients with 0 grade diabetic foot can make the effects of glucose control and blood lipid control lasting and stable. Besides, the self-care ability of diabetic foot of patients improves by knowledge learning again and again and correcting unhealthy life styles so as to reduce the risk of infection, ulcer, thanatosis and amputation.
10.Application of systematic health education in the ultrasound guided interventional therapy for patients with cysts
Fuli TIAN ; Bin YANG ; Qingxin MENG ; Pengfei HUANG ; Jiemei FAN
Journal of Regional Anatomy and Operative Surgery 2016;(2):119-121
Objective To investigate the effect of systematic health education on the ultrasound guided interventional therapy for pa -tients with cysts.Methods Totally 181 patients with cysts who received the ultrasound guided interventional therapy in our hospital ,were randomly divided into observation group and control group .The patients in the observation group received systematic health education ,while patients in control group received convention health education .Results The differences of pain score between two groups were statistical significance(P<0.05).By health education,the patients in the observation group had a deeper knowledge of the operation and became more cooperative(P<0.05).Conclusion Systematic health education could alleviate the pain and improve the psychological indisposition reac -tions of patients,and enhance therapeutic compliance of patients with ultrasound guided interventional therapy .In the meantime,systematic health education could improve the quality of work and enhance the diathesis of paramedic .

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