1.Ancient and Modern Documentation of Classic Formula Sangjuyin
Xiaofang WANG ; Lyuyuan LIANG ; Jialei CAO ; Ziming XU ; Wangju ZHOU ; Yiping WANG ; Yujie CHANG ; Ruiting SU ; Yihan LI ; Jingwen LI ; Bingqi WEI ; Bingxiang MA ; Wenli SHI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(4):200-207
Sangjuyin, as a pungent and cooling agent with precise therapeutic effect, is a classic pungent formula for cooling relief of the epidermis, which is highly respected by medical practitioners. This formula is from the Wenbing Tiaobian written by WU Jutong in the Qing dynasty, on the basis of which subsequent medical practitioners have made additions and subtractions to apply it. The authors used the bibliometric method to systematically organize the medical books from the Qing dynasty and the Republic of China and modern literature to analyze the composition, concoction, decoction, efficacy, and previous and modern application of Sangjuyin. After examination, the drug base of this formula is basically clear. Armeniacae Semen Amarum is the dried mature seeds of Armeniaca vulgaris, family Rosaceae. Forsythiae Fructus is the dried fruit of Forsythia suspensa, family Mulleinaceae. Menthae Haplocalycis Herba is the dried above-ground part of Mentha haplocalyx, family Labiatae. Mori Folium is the dried leaves of Morus alba, family Moraceae. Chrysanthemi Flos is the dried head of Chrysanthemum morifolium, family Asteraceae. Platycodonis Radix is the dried root of Eryngium grandiflorum, family Eryngium. Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma is the dried root and rhizome of Glycyrrhiza uralensis of the Leguminosae family, and Phragmitis Rhizoma is the fresh or dried rhizome of Phragmites communis of the Gramineae family. It is recommended that the eight drugs be used in raw form as medicine. The dosage and method of decoction were converted into a modern single dosage of 7.46 g Armeniacae Semen Amarum, 5.60 g Forsythiae Fructus, 2.98 g Menthae Haplocalycis Herba, 9.33 g Mori Folium, 3.73 g Chrysanthemi Flos, 7.46 g Platycodonis Radix, 2.98 g Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, and 11.19 g Phragmitis Rhizoma, with 400 mL water added, and the solution was boiled to obtain 200 mL, taken twice a day. Sangjuyin has the efficacy of dispersing wind and clearing heat, promoting lung and relieving cough, and it is used for treating the initial onset of wind-warmth and the evidence of evil spirits in the lungs and collaterals. Modern research has shown that Sangjuyin is often used in the treatment of cough, pneumonia, rhinitis, and other respiratory diseases, and the results of this study provide a reference for the later development of Sangjuyin.
2.Ameliorating Effect of Yifei Tongluo Prescription on Bleomycin-induced Pulmonary Fibrosis in Rats via Regulating NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD Signaling Pathway and Epithelial-mesenchymal Transition
Bowen ZHOU ; Zefeng LI ; Xian MA ; Xuannian LI ; Jingwen WANG ; Fei XU ; Huaman LIU ; Xinhua JIA
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(1):150-159
ObjectiveTo observe the effects of Yifei Tongluo prescription on the NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3)/Caspase-1/gasdermin D (GSDMD) pathway and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in rats with pulmonary fibrosis. MethodsTracheal instillation of bleomycin was conducted to establish a rat model of pulmonary fibrosis. Thirty Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a blank group, a model group, a prednisone acetate group (1.17 mg·kg-1), and low- and high-dose Yifei Tongluo prescription groups (10.62 and 21.24 g·kg-1, respectively). Administration started on the 7th day after modeling, once a day for 28 consecutive days. The lung coefficient of each group was calculated. The pathological changes of lung tissues in each group were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and Masson staining. The expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and vimentin in rat lung tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry. The expression of NLRP3 inflammasome, E-cadherin (E-cad), and typeⅠ collagen (ColⅠ) in lung tissues was detected by immunofluorescence. The content of hydroxyproline (HYP), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-18, and IL-1β in rat serum was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The mRNA expression levels of NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC), IL-1β, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 in rat lung tissues were determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR). The protein expression levels of NLRP3, GSDMD, ASC, and Caspase-1 in rat lung tissues were determined by Western blot. ResultsCompared with the blank group, the model group exhibited a significantly increased lung coefficient (P<0.01) and significantly increased range of pulmonary interstitial inflammation and collagen deposition. In addition, the levels of α-SMA, Vimentin, E-cad, and ColⅠ in lung tissues were significantly increased (P<0.01). The levels of fibrosis- and inflammation-related factors HYP, TNF-α, IL-18, and IL-1β in serum were significantly upregulated (P<0.01). The levels of factors related to the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome in lung tissues, including NLRP3, GSDMD, ASC, Caspase-1, IL-1β, and TGF-β1, were significantly upregulated (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the Yifei Tongluo prescription groups showed improved lung coefficients. Additionally, the extent of lung inflammation and collagen deposition was significantly reduced. The expression of α-SMA, Vimentin, E-cad, and ColⅠ in lung tissue was significantly decreased (P<0.01). The levels of HYP, TNF-α, IL-18, and IL-1β in serum were significantly reduced (P<0.01). The expression levels of NLRP3, GSDMD, ASC, Caspase-1, IL-1β, and TGF-β1 in lung tissue were also significantly decreased (P<0.01). ConclusionYifei Tongluo prescription can regulate the NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD pathway, down-regulate release of pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic cytokines, alleviate NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis and EMT, and thereby improve pulmonary fibrosis in rats.
3.Comparison of sleep EEG power spectral density between depressive episode patients and schizophrenia patients with suicidal behavior
Jingwen LIU ; Yunfei ZHOU ; Jingchu HU ; Jiaoyan ZHOU ; Junwei YANG ; Jie LIANG ; Hong XU ; Yu CANG ; Shimeng MA
Sichuan Mental Health 2026;39(1):50-57
BackgroundPatients with depressive episode and schizophrenia have a high risk of suicide. The sleep electroencephalogram power spectral density characteristics of patients with depressive episode accompanied by suicidal behavior and those with schizophrenia may be different, but there is currently a lack of direct comparative studies on these two groups of patients. ObjectiveTo compare the sleep electroencephalogram power spectral density between depressive episode and schizophrenic patients with suicidal behavior, in order to provide references for exploring predictive indicators of suicidal behavior. MethodsFrom June 2018 to December 2020, 20 patients with depressive episode and 20 patients with schizophrenia who had committed suicide within the past month and were treated at the outpatient department of Shenzhen Kangning Hospital were selected. All of them met the diagnostic criteria for depressive episode or schizophrenia as defined in the International Classification of Diseases, tenth edition (ICD-10). Using a random sampling method, 20 volunteers with matching gender and age to the patient groups were selected from the Cuiping community in Shenzhen as the control group. The subjective sleep of the patients was evaluated using the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), the Dysfunctional Belief and Attitude about Sleep (DBAS), the Disturbing Dreams and Nightmare Severity Index (DDNSI), and the Epworth Somnolence Scale (ESS). The objective sleep of the patients was assessed using polysomnography. The sleep electroencephalogram was filtered and the power spectral density of the brain wave was analyzed and processed for all the subjects. The subjective and objective sleep conditions of the two patient groups were compared, and the sleep electroencephalogram power spectral density of the patient groups and the control group were also compared. ResultsA comparison of subjective and objective sleep conditions between patients with depressive episode accompanied by suicidal behavior and patients with schizophrenia accompanied by suicidal behavior showed no statistically significant differences (P>0.05). Comparisons of sleep electroencephalogram power spectral density in the W stage (average power of α wave, total power of δ wave, average power of δ wave, average power of θ wave), N1 stage (average power of β wave, total power of α wave, total power of δ wave), N2 stage (total power of α wave, average power of α wave, total power of δ wave, average power of δ wave), N3 stage (average power of α wave, average power of δ wave), and R stage (total power of α wave, average power of α wave, total power of δ wave, average power of δ wave) between patients with depressive episode accompanied by suicidal behavior, patients with schizophrenia accompanied by suicidal behavior, and the control group showed statistically significant differences (P<0.05 or 0.01). The total power of δ wave in the W stage and the average power of β wave and δ wave in the N1 stage were higher in two patient groups were higher than those of the control group. The total power of α wave and the average power of α wave in the N2 stage were lower than those of the control group, while the average power of δ wave was higher than that of the control group. The average power of α wave in the N3 stage of both patient groups were lower than that of the control group, while the average power of δ wave was higher than that of the control group. The total power and average power of α wave in the R stage were lower than those of the control group, while the total power and average power of δ wave were higher than those of the control group. All the differences were statistically significant. Patients with depressive episode accompanied by suicidal behavior had higher average powers of α wave, δ wave, and θ wave in the W stage compared with the control group, while the total power of α wave in the N1 stage was lower in the former group. All these differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). ConclusionThe depressive episode patients accompanied by suicidal behavior have highly overlapping sleep electroencephalogram abnormal patterns with those of schizophrenia patients, mainly manifested as a general decrease in α wave power (N2, N3, R stage) and a general increase in δ wave power (W, N1, N2, N3, R stage) as well as β wave power in N1 stage. At the same time, patients with depressive episode accompanied by suicidal behavior also show specific changes, including an increase in the average power of α and θ waves during the wakefulness period (W stage), and a decrease in the total power of α wave in N1 stage. [Funded by Guangdong Province High-level Clinical Key Specialty (with supporting funds from Shenzhen City) (number, SZGSP013); Shenzhen Key Medical Discipline (number, SZXK041); Shenzhen Clinical Medicine Research Center Project (number, 20210617155253001)]
4.Curzerene Ameliorates Depression-Like Behaviors and Cognitive Impairment by Modulating the Gut Microbiota and HMGB1/RAGE/ TLR4 Pathway
Fengjing HUANG ; Xiaohong MA ; Xiao XU ; Jingwen ZHANG ; Chunlai WANG ; Ruoxi SONG ; Xiangxiang WANG ; Mingxing CHEN ; Yu QI
Biomolecules & Therapeutics 2026;34(1):174-188
Curzerene, a sesquiterpene compound isolated from Curcuma Radix, exhibits various therapeutic effects, such as anti-tumor and anti-hyperlipidemic properties. However, its neuroprotective effects have not yet been reported. This study focused on exploring the neuroprotective effect of curzerene and elucidating its potential mechanism by combining molecular biotechnology with multi-omics approaches. Curzerene was orally administered to LPS-induced depressive-like behaviors and cognitive impairment in mice for 14 days, and the related biochemical parameters were evaluated. The possible mechanisms were elucidated using qRT-PCR, Western Blot, immunofluorescence, untargeted metabolomics, GC-MS and 16S rDNA comprehensively. Curzerene ameliorated depression symptoms and cognitive impairment by increasing the preference for sucrose in SPT and the central area and total distance traveled in OFT, reducing the immobility time in TST and FST, as well as rising the spontaneous alternation ratio in Y maze. Multiple molecular biology techniques analyses indicated the ameliorative effect of curzerene via HMGB1/RAGE/ TLR4 pathway. Moreover, curzerene primarily regulates purine metabolism, phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis, phenylalanine metabolism, pyrimidine metabolism, etc. Furthermore, intervention increased the relative abundance of Parabacteroides, Clostridia_UCG-014_unclassified, and Rhodospirillales_unclassified, and enhanced the production of SCFAs. This work demonstrated that curzerene effectively protects against LPS-induced neurological damage, potentially by inhibiting the HMGB1/ RAGE/TLR4 pathway through the restoration of gut microbiota homeostasis, modulation of metabolites, and enhancement of SCFAs. In conclusion, this study offers new perspectives on the therapeutic possibilities of curzerene in mitigating depressive-like behaviors and cognitive impairment.
5.Clinical and Neuroelectrophysiological Characteristics of Split Face Phenomenon in Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Dong ZHANG ; Wenqing WANG ; Jingwen XU ; Xiaoqing LYU ; Yuying ZHAO ; Chuanzhu YAN
JOURNAL OF RARE DISEASES 2026;5(2):184-190
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a chronic, progressive degenerative disease affecting both upper and lower motor neurons, primarily characterized by skeletal muscle weakness and atrophy. Notably, the same muscle group may exhibit asynchronous involvement. This study aims to investigate the involvement patterns of the orbicularis oculi (OOc) and orbicularis oris (OOr) in ALS patients, compare the findings with healthy controls (HCs) and myasthenia gravis (MG) patients, and explore the characteristics and clinical significance of facial muscle involvement in ALS. Clinical and neuroelectrophysiological data were collected and analyzed in ALS patients (ALS group), HCs (HCs group) and MG patients (MG group). Clinical data included age, gender, clinical symptoms and signs, and the revised ALS Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS-R) score. Split-face (SF) phenomenon was defined as OOc muscle strength being greater than OOr muscle strength. The negative peak amplitudes of compound motor action potential (CMAP) recorded from OOc and OOr, namely CMAPOOc and CMAPOOr, were collected for electrophysiological evaluation. Number of patients enrolled in each group: 137 in the ALS group, 42 in the HCS group, and 33 in the MG group.Of the 137 ALS patients, 74 presented clinical SF manifestation. The CMAPOOc amplitude in the ALS group was 2.00 (1.66, 2.40) mV, showing no significant difference compared with 2.20 (1.86, 2.58) mV in the HCs group ( More than half of ALS patients have SF phenomenon, and neuroelectrophysiological indicators can provide objective evidence for SF. SF is correlated with bulbar onset, severe bulbar symptoms and rapid disease progression, and can serve as a potential indicator for the differential diagnosis between ALS-BO and MG.
6.Analgesic Effects of Manual Acupuncture via Mast Cell Degranulation:An Animal Experimental Study
Ziliang ZHANG ; Yi YU ; Xuan QIAO ; Enna CHEN ; Jingwen XU ; Wei YAO
Journal of Medical Biomechanics 2025;40(5):1164-1170
Objective The analgesic effect of manual acupuncture on acute adjuvant arthritis(AA)rats was evaluated using flurbiprofen cataplasm as a positive control,and the role of mast cells in the mechanism of analgesia was explored.Methods 24 SD rats were randomly divided into model group,10-minute manual acupuncture group,and 30-minute flurbiprofen cataplasm treatment group.AA rat models were established,and treatments were applied at the Zusanli acupoint,while the model group received no treatment.The rats'pain thresholds under mechanical and thermal stimuli were measured before and after the therapy.Acupoint tissue sections were collected and stained,and the mast cell degranulation rate at the acupoint tissue was calculated for each experimental group.Results Mechanical and thermal pain thresholds were significantly increased in 10-minute manual acupuncture group compared to those before therapy(P<0.000 1),while there was no significant difference in mechanical and thermal pain pain threshold recovery rates between 10-minute manual acupuncture group and 30-minute flurbiprofen cataplasm treatment group(P>0.05).The mast cell degranulation rate in 10-minute manual acupuncture group and the 30-minute flurbiprofen cataplasm treatment group was significantly higher than that of the model group(P<0.001).Conclusions Short-term application of manual acupuncture provides immediate analgesia in AA rats,comparable to flurbiprofen cataplasm treatment.The analgesic effects of manual acupuncture and flurbiprofen cataplasm treatment may be closely related to the degranulation of mast cells in the Zusanli acupoint tissue.This study provides an optimized clinical protocol for treating inflammatory joint diseases while laying the groundwork for future research on treatment mechanisms,long-term outcomes,and combination therapy applicability in varied patient groups.
7.Research progress in animal models of influenza virus/Streptococcus pneumoniae co-infection
Jianshu YANG ; Xuefeng WANG ; Xiuying ZHANG ; Jingwen MU ; Wentao XU
Chinese Journal of Comparative Medicine 2025;35(3):170-178
Bacterial reinfection in the lungs of patients with influenza virus(IV)is a key factor leading to serious illness and death.The adverse consequences caused by co-infection with IV and Streptococcus pneumoniae(SPN)impose a serious burden on patients.However,the specific pathogenesis is complex,how to make better use of the mouse animal model of IV/SPN co-infection for subsequent basic research is of great significance.This article reviews the selection of animals,the selection of pathogen types,the selection of different modeling times,the identification of the co-infection model,and its applications in the IV/SPN co-infection model,so as to provide a reference for the selection of animal models of IV/SPN co-infection in the future.
8.Discussion on the Relationship Between Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease And lnsomnia Based on"Stomach Disharmony Leads to Testlessness":A Two-Sample Mendel Randomized Study
Qianyan WU ; Xiaogang XU ; Qingyuan ZHANG ; Jingwen ZHANG ; Delin ZHANG
World Science and Technology-Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;27(3):867-877
Objective Based on the theory of"stomach disharmony leads to restlessness",the causal relationship between gastroesophageal reflux disease and insomnia was discussed by Mendel randomization method with two samples.Methods The data were collected from genome-wide association studies,the exposure factor was gastroesophageal reflux disease,and the outcome variable was insomnia.Mendel randomization analysis is realized by inverse variance weighted method,MR-Egger method,simple model method,weighted model method and weighted median method.Sensitivity analysis includes pleiotropic test,heterogeneity test and one-by-one elimination test,and is calculated by MR-Egger method,Cochran Q test and one-out-of-one method in turn.Results A total of 75 single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)were screened.The inverse variance weighted method showed that gastroesophageal reflux disease increased the risk of insomnia(OR=1.255,95%CI:1.071-1.470,P<0.05).The weighted median method also confirmed that there was a positive causal relationship between gastroesophageal reflux disease and insomnia(OR=1.403,95%CI:1.117-1.762,P<0.05).Multiple sensitivity analysis indicated that there was no pleiotropy and heterogeneity in the results of Mendelian randomized analysis,which verified the stability of the research results.Conclusion There is a positive causal relationship between gastroesophageal reflux disease and insomnia,which enriches the theoretical connotation of"stomach disharmony leads to restlessness"from the genetic point of view and lays a foundation for further study.
9.Research progress in animal models of influenza virus/Streptococcus pneumoniae co-infection
Jianshu YANG ; Xuefeng WANG ; Xiuying ZHANG ; Jingwen MU ; Wentao XU
Chinese Journal of Comparative Medicine 2025;35(3):170-178
Bacterial reinfection in the lungs of patients with influenza virus(IV)is a key factor leading to serious illness and death.The adverse consequences caused by co-infection with IV and Streptococcus pneumoniae(SPN)impose a serious burden on patients.However,the specific pathogenesis is complex,how to make better use of the mouse animal model of IV/SPN co-infection for subsequent basic research is of great significance.This article reviews the selection of animals,the selection of pathogen types,the selection of different modeling times,the identification of the co-infection model,and its applications in the IV/SPN co-infection model,so as to provide a reference for the selection of animal models of IV/SPN co-infection in the future.
10.Discussion on the Relationship Between Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease And lnsomnia Based on"Stomach Disharmony Leads to Testlessness":A Two-Sample Mendel Randomized Study
Qianyan WU ; Xiaogang XU ; Qingyuan ZHANG ; Jingwen ZHANG ; Delin ZHANG
World Science and Technology-Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;27(3):867-877
Objective Based on the theory of"stomach disharmony leads to restlessness",the causal relationship between gastroesophageal reflux disease and insomnia was discussed by Mendel randomization method with two samples.Methods The data were collected from genome-wide association studies,the exposure factor was gastroesophageal reflux disease,and the outcome variable was insomnia.Mendel randomization analysis is realized by inverse variance weighted method,MR-Egger method,simple model method,weighted model method and weighted median method.Sensitivity analysis includes pleiotropic test,heterogeneity test and one-by-one elimination test,and is calculated by MR-Egger method,Cochran Q test and one-out-of-one method in turn.Results A total of 75 single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)were screened.The inverse variance weighted method showed that gastroesophageal reflux disease increased the risk of insomnia(OR=1.255,95%CI:1.071-1.470,P<0.05).The weighted median method also confirmed that there was a positive causal relationship between gastroesophageal reflux disease and insomnia(OR=1.403,95%CI:1.117-1.762,P<0.05).Multiple sensitivity analysis indicated that there was no pleiotropy and heterogeneity in the results of Mendelian randomized analysis,which verified the stability of the research results.Conclusion There is a positive causal relationship between gastroesophageal reflux disease and insomnia,which enriches the theoretical connotation of"stomach disharmony leads to restlessness"from the genetic point of view and lays a foundation for further study.

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