1."Olfactory Administration of Chinese Medicine"——A New Form of Application of Chinese Medicine
Shuangli ZHANG ; Shihui GE ; Zimeng GE ; Yue WANG ; Lianmin YUAN ; Beibei ZHANG ; Xinxuan LI ; Jinxin MIAO ; Mingsan MIAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(13):225-232
As an innovative form of combining traditional aromatherapy with modern nasal medicine delivery technology, "olfactory administration of Chinese medicine" carries the theoretical essence of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which is "moving and channeling Qi and fragrance, dredging and awakening the mind". Based on the systematic records of olfactory therapies in ancient books in emergency care, disorders of consciousness, lung system, and gynecological diseases, this paper examines the historical evolution of its clinical application, and elucidates the profound historical basis and theoretical feasibility of "olfactory administration of Chinese medicine" as a new form. Combined with the innovation and precise application of modern Chinese medicine olfactory agents in multi-system diseases such as nervous, respiratory, and cardiovascular diseases, this paper further analyzes the multi-dimensional mechanism of olfactory receptor pathway, olfactory brain pathway, nasal mucosal blood vessels, and lymphatic channels, and demonstrates its advantages of rapid onset, targeted brain entry, and systemic regulation. Under the background of continuous growth in the demand for external TCM treatment, continuous breakthroughs in the technology of nasal dosage forms, and increasingly accurate drug delivery paths, Chinese medicine olfactory agents have shown significant practical applicability and development potential. This study aims to provide theoretical support and practical direction for the system construction of this form.
2.Nose-to-brain Delivery of Traditional Chinese Medicine Essential Oils for Neurological Disorders: Applications and Molecular Mechanisms
Shuangli ZHANG ; Shihui GE ; Yinan ZHAO ; Zimeng GE ; Yue WANG ; Lianmin YUAN ; Beibei ZHANG ; Xinxuan LI ; Jinxin MIAO ; Mingsan MIAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(20):251-259
The nose-to-brain pathway refers to a significant drug delivery route through which substances traverse the unique anatomical structures of the nasal cavity to directly access the central nervous system, bypassing the blood-brain barrier. Its core advantage lies in utilizing the olfactory and trigeminal nerves, enabling peripheral drug administration to rapidly and efficiently reach the brain, thereby avoiding the drug loss and bioavailability reduction associated with oral or intravenous routes due to the circulatory system and blood-brain barrier limitations. In recent years, with in-depth research into the neuroanatomy of the olfactory system, nasal mucosal barrier properties, and neural regulatory mechanisms, the potential application of the nose-to-brain pathway in neurological diseases has attracted increasing attention. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) essential oils, characterized by strong lipophilicity, small molecular weights, volatility, and diverse chemical components, are highly compatible with the physiological characteristics of the nose-to-brain pathway, thus serving as promising carriers for brain-targeted drug delivery, enhancing drug bioavailability, and exerting neuroprotective effects. On this basis, this review systematically summarizes the anatomical and physiological bases for the delivery of TCM essential oils via the nose-to-brain pathway, the patterns of drug transport and brain distribution, clinical and animal study examples in neurological diseases, the associated molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways, and the progress in the development of novel nasal essential oil formulations. Additionally, the review analyzes the current challenges in this field and proposes strategies for future research and application. By systematically discussing the nose-to-brain pathway and the delivery mechanisms of TCM essential oils, this study aims to provide theoretical support for drug development, mechanism exploration, and formulation innovation in the treatment of neurological diseases, while also offering scientific guidance for further research and clinical applications of the nose-to-brain delivery system.
3.Nose-to-brain Delivery of Traditional Chinese Medicine Essential Oils for Neurological Disorders: Applications and Molecular Mechanisms
Shuangli ZHANG ; Shihui GE ; Yinan ZHAO ; Zimeng GE ; Yue WANG ; Lianmin YUAN ; Beibei ZHANG ; Xinxuan LI ; Jinxin MIAO ; Mingsan MIAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(20):251-259
The nose-to-brain pathway refers to a significant drug delivery route through which substances traverse the unique anatomical structures of the nasal cavity to directly access the central nervous system, bypassing the blood-brain barrier. Its core advantage lies in utilizing the olfactory and trigeminal nerves, enabling peripheral drug administration to rapidly and efficiently reach the brain, thereby avoiding the drug loss and bioavailability reduction associated with oral or intravenous routes due to the circulatory system and blood-brain barrier limitations. In recent years, with in-depth research into the neuroanatomy of the olfactory system, nasal mucosal barrier properties, and neural regulatory mechanisms, the potential application of the nose-to-brain pathway in neurological diseases has attracted increasing attention. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) essential oils, characterized by strong lipophilicity, small molecular weights, volatility, and diverse chemical components, are highly compatible with the physiological characteristics of the nose-to-brain pathway, thus serving as promising carriers for brain-targeted drug delivery, enhancing drug bioavailability, and exerting neuroprotective effects. On this basis, this review systematically summarizes the anatomical and physiological bases for the delivery of TCM essential oils via the nose-to-brain pathway, the patterns of drug transport and brain distribution, clinical and animal study examples in neurological diseases, the associated molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways, and the progress in the development of novel nasal essential oil formulations. Additionally, the review analyzes the current challenges in this field and proposes strategies for future research and application. By systematically discussing the nose-to-brain pathway and the delivery mechanisms of TCM essential oils, this study aims to provide theoretical support for drug development, mechanism exploration, and formulation innovation in the treatment of neurological diseases, while also offering scientific guidance for further research and clinical applications of the nose-to-brain delivery system.
4.Fitting Degrees of Animal Models of Chronic Glomerulonephritis with Clinical Characteristics in Western Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine
Siqing WU ; Lin GUO ; Beibei ZHANG ; Mingsan MIAO ; Jinxin MIAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(3):259-264
Chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN) is a common clinical chronic glomerular disease caused by autoimmune reaction, the pathogenesis of which is complex and has not been fully elucidated. There is no specific treatment method in modern medicine. The establishment of an animal model of CGN in accordance with its characteristics in western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine will help to reveal the pathogenesis of CGN, rate drugs, and improve the treatment plan. Based on the clinical diagnostic criteria of CGN, the paper establishes the syndrome differentiation criteria of CGN for Chinese and western medicine. Through summarizing the literature on animal models of CGN and making a further analysis, it is found that the CGN models are mainly modeled using rats with the methods of single-factor induction or two-factor induction, and the main manifestation of the disease characteristics is nephritis-related symptoms. The single-factor-induced or two-factor-induced CGN rat models have a high fitting degree with the clinical characteristics in western medicine, but the fitting degree is insufficient with the clinical characteristics in traditional Chinese medicine. In addition, the CGN models with syndromes of traditional Chinese medicine are dominated by Qi deficiency in the spleen and kidney and Qi deficiency in the lung and kidney, while models for Yang deficiency in the spleen and kidney, Yin deficiency in the liver and kidney, and deficiency of both Qi and Yin are slightly insufficient. Therefore, it is important to prepare a new and improved animal model of CGN, so that a preclinical model can be provided for the exploration of the pathogenesis of CGN in western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine and its therapeutic research.
5.Analysis on Quality Standard of Sennae Folium(Cassia angustifolia) Dispensing Granules Based on Standard Decoctions
Jinxin LI ; Xue DONG ; Shuai DUAN ; Guiyun CAO ; Jinghua ZHANG ; Yongfu LUAN ; Yongqiang LIN ; Xiaodi DONG ; Zhaoqing MENG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(9):192-200
ObjectiveTo establish the quality standards for Sennae Folium(Cassia angustifolia) dispensing granules based on standard decoctions. MethodsHigh performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) specific chromatograms were established for 15 batches of Sennae Folium(C. angustifolia) standard decoctions and 10 of Sennae Folium(C. angustifolia) dispensing granules from different manufacturers, and the similarity evaluation, hierarchical cluster analysis(HCA) and principal component analysis(PCA) were performed. Linear calibration with two reference substances(LCTRS) and quantitative analysis of multi-components by single-marker(QAMS) were established for the common peaks in the specific chromatograms to determine the contents of main components in the decoction pieces, standard decoctions and dispensing granules, and to calculate their transfer rates from decoction pieces to standard decoctions and dispensing granules. ResultsThe similarities of specific chromatograms of 15 batches of Sennae Folium(C. angustifolia) standard decoctions and 10 batches of Sennae Folium(C. angustifolia) dispensing granules were all greater than 0.95, and a total of 8 characteristic peaks were calibrated, and five of them were identified, including kaempferol-3,7-O-diglucoside, apigenin-6,8-di-C-glucoside, quercetin-3-O-gentianoside, sennoside B and sennoside A. HCA and PCA results showed that there were certain differences in the composition of different batches of standard decoctions, but no clustering was observed in the production area. As the standard decoctions, the extract rate of 15 batches of samples was 26.54%-45.38%, the contents of kaempferol-3,7-O-diglucoside, apigenin-6,8-di-C-glucoside, quercetin-3-O-gentianoside, sennoside B and sennoside A were 12.16-19.26, 2.57-4.94, 3.27-5.11, 6.75-11.39, 4.69-7.79 mg·g-1, and their transfer rates from decoction pieces to standard decoctions were 45.41%-79.02%, 29.12%-55.07%, 40.52%-67.90%, 24.72%-49.12%, 27.54%-49.34%, respectively. The extract rates of Sennae Folium(C. angustifolia) dispensing granules(C8-C10) were 38.10%-39.50%, the transfer rates of the above five components from decoction pieces to dispensing granules were 72.85%-73.58%, 53.43%-53.94%, 40.19%-40.74%, 24.62%-25.00%, 28.65%-29.11%, respectively, which were generally consistent with the transfer rates from decoction pieces to standard decoctions. ConclusionCompared with the relative retention time method, LCTRS has higher prediction accuracy and is more suitable for chromatographic columns. The established quality control standard of Sennae Folium(C. angustifolia) dispensing granules based on standard decoction is reasonable and reliable, and all indicators of samples from different manufacturers are within the range specified based on the standard decoction, which can provide reference for the quality control and process research of this dispensing granules.
6.Robot-assisted Navigation With Percutaneous Lag Screw Treatment for Hangman's Fracture
Wanpeng LIU ; Jinxin ZHANG ; Wenchuang CHEN ; Yizhi PAN ; Rongbin CHEN ; Zhaoyu YU ; Xinyuan LIN ; Yong LI
Chinese Journal of Minimally Invasive Surgery 2025;25(7):429-434
Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of robot-assisted navigation with percutaneous lag screw treatment for Hangman's fracture.Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 5 patients treated with robot-assisted C2 percutaneous lag screw for Hangman's fracture in our hospital from September 2021 to August 2023.Patients were positioned with moderate head-neck flexion in a Mayfield head clamp.After closed reduction with manual traction under general anesthesia,the C2 percutaneous lag screws were implanted under TINAVI orthopedic surgical robot assistance.Postoperative cervical CT scans were used to assess screw placement accuracy and fracture healing quality.Clinical efficacy was evaluated by the Odom grading system.Results All the 5 patients were operated successfully without vertebral artery injury or neurological complications.A total of 10 screws were implanted.According to the Gertzbein-Robbins standard,9 screws belonged to the grade A,and 1 belonged to the grade B,with an accuracy of 90%(9/10)and an excellent rate of 100%(10/10).The neck incision length ranged 20-30 mm(mean,27 mm).The operation time was 86-160 min(mean,112.8 min).The intraoperative blood loss was 10-50 ml(mean,30 ml).The postoperative hospitalization was5-18 d(mean,8 d).The patients were followed up for 12-34 months(mean,23.6 months).All fractures healed without screw breakage or loosening.According to the Odom grading,4 cases were excellent,and 1 case was good.Conclusion Robot-assisted navigation C2 percutaneous lag screw treatment for Hangman's fracture is accurate and minimally invasive,safe and effective.
7.Distribution of pathogenic bacteria,SPECT/CT imaging manifestations and role of Wnt/β-catenin pathway in upper urinary tract infections
Jinxin YU ; Fengfeng YANG ; Rui LIN ; Yue ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Nosocomiology 2025;35(15):2310-2314
OBJECTIVE To investigate the distribution of pathogenic bacteria,imaging manifestations on single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography(SPECT/CT)and the role of Wnt/β-catenin path-way in upper urinary tract infections.METHODS From Jan.2021 to Jan.2024,53 patients with upper urinary tract infection and 53 urinary calculi patients without upper urinary tract infections who had urinary system stones were selected from the Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University as the infected group and the non-infected group,respectively.The distribution of pathogens in the infected group,SPECT/CT imaging manifestations and SPECT/CT imaging manifestations after 7 days of anti-infective treatment were statistically analyzed and com-pared.The levels of Wnt-1 andβ-catenin in both groups and the infection group before and after 3 and 7 days of an-ti-infective treatment were compared.The diagnostic values of Wnt-1 andβ-catenin for urinary calculi complicated with upper urinary tract infection were analyzed.RESULTS A total of 53 strains were yielded from the middle-seg-ment urine of the infection group,predominantly gram-negative bacteria.SPECT/CT imaging showed small nodu-lar dense shadows were in the upper segment of left ureter,the upper segment of the ureter,renal pelvis and calyx dilated,and visible striated shadows were around the kidney after 7 days of anti-infective treatment,the cystic low-density shadow under the left renal capsule was basically absorbed,the perirenal strip shadow slightly re-duced,but the perinephric fascia remained thickened,and the surrounding fat space was blurred.Wnt-1 and β-catenin levels elevated in the infection group compared with the non-infection group(P<0.05).The area under the curveof combined detection of Wnt-1 andβ-catenin was 0.907.CONCLUSIONS Gram-negative bacteria are the main pathogens causing upper urinary tract infections in patients with urinary calculi.SPECT/CT imaging shows inflammatory changes,and the Wnt/β-catenin pathway is activated.The combination of Wnt-1 andβ-catenin has high diagnostic value.After anti-infective treatment,the inflammation showed on SPECT/CT imaging improves and the Wnt/β-catenin pathway is inhibited.
8.Olfactory domain family protein 3 promotes the proliferation of MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma cell lines in vitro
Yao ZHANG ; Xuan ZHANG ; Anna JIA ; Shijia ZHAN ; Jinxin GUO ; Yan CHANG ; Yongli GUO
Basic & Clinical Medicine 2025;45(2):168-175
Objective To explore the function of olfactomedin domain family protein 3(OLFM3)in neuroblastoma(NB).Methods The relationship between the expression of OLFM3 mRNA and v-myc avian myelocytomatosis viral oncogene neuroblastoma derived homolog(MYCN)amplification status and the prognosis of patients in NB clin-ical samples were clarified by using R2 Genomics Analysis and Visualization Platform.Depmap database was used to examine the expression level of OLFM3 in different tumors cell lines and to identify the correlation between OLFM3 expression and MYCN amplification status in various NB cell lines.RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to detect the knockdown level of OLFM3.Cell proliferation was monitored using crystal violet staining and real?time cellular analysis.The colony formation ability of NB cells was assessed using colony?forming unit assay.Results Analysis of R2 database revealed higher level of OLFM3 expression in MYCN?amplified NB clinical samples(P<0.001).Patients with high OLFM3 expression showed a significantly lower overall survival probability compared to those with low OLFM3 expression(P<0.05).Analysis with Depmap database revealed that the expres?sion level of OLFM3 was higher in NB than that in other kind of tumor.The expression level of OLFM3 was signifi?cantly higher in the MYCN?amplified cell lines than in the MYCN?non?amplified cell lines(P<0.01).In MYCN?am?plified NB cells,knockdown of OLFM3 inhibited cells proliferation(P<0.001)and colony formation(P<0.001),but there was no noticeable changes observed in MYCN?non?amplified cells.Conclusions OLFM3 specifically pro?motes the proliferation of MYCN?amplified NB cells,but has a less effect on MYCN?non?amplified cells,indicating it is a potential biomarker for high?risk MYCN?amplified NB.
9.The effect of different particle activities and tumor shrinkage speed on the dosimetric parameters of the target area after 125I particle implantation
Huimin YU ; Jinxin ZHAO ; Jiantao DONG ; Xuemin DI ; Zhen GAO ; Juan WANG ; Hongtao ZHANG
Journal of Interventional Radiology 2025;34(3):272-277
Objective To discuss the effect of different particle activities and tumor shrinkage speed on the dosimetric parameters of the target area at the same prescription dose after 125I particle implantation.Methods A 6cm-sized cube tumor model was outlined by using a computerized three-dimensional treatment planning system(3D-TPS)with a prescription dose(PD)of 100 Gy,and 125I particle activities of 0.4 mCi and 0.8 mCi were selected.Assuming that the tumor shrinks centripetally after seed implantation and that the 125I particles were uniformly and centripetally concentrated without shedding or wandering,the tumor volume shrank at different rates every month after implantation(0,5%,10%,15%,20%,25%,30%,35%,40%,45%and 50%),according to the different activities of 125I particles,the experiments were divided into A1-K1 group(0.4 mCi)and A2-K2 group(0.8 mCi).Based on the 125I particle decay law,the validation program(using TPS simulation of the A1-K1 group and A2-K2 group at postoperative 1,2,3,4,5 and 6 months)obtained the dose received by 90%of the target volume(D90)in the two groups with different 125I particle activities at different postoperative time points,the percentages of the target volume covered by the 100%,150%and 90%prescription dose(V100,V150,V90),and the mean dose(Dmean).By comparing the differences in D90,V100,V150,V90 and Dmean after tumor implantation of 125I particles with different activities,the dosimetric impact of the tumor target area shrinking at a rate of 0~50%after implantation of 125I particles with different activities into tumor tissues was analyzed.Results When the monthly shrinkage rate of the tumor target area was≤30%,there was no obvious difference in D90 between the 0.4 mCi group and 0.8 mCi group in 1~6 months after surgery.When the monthly shrinkage rate of the tumor target area was>30%,the D90 of 0.8 mCi group was higher than that of 0.4 mCi group;when the monthly shrinkage rate of the tumor target area was<25%,the V90 of 0.4 mCi group was higher than that of 0.8 mCi group,and the changes of V90 of the two groups tended to be the same in the 5th~6th month after surgery.When the monthly shrinkage rate of the tumor target area was ≥30%,the V90 of 0.8 mCi group was higher than that of 0.4 mCi group,and with the increasing of shrinkage rate,the difference between the two groups become more and more significant,the results of V100 were consistent with those of V90.When the monthly shrinkage rate of tumor target area<35%,V150 of 0.4 mCi group was higher than that of 0.8 mCi group,when the monthly shrinkage rate of tumor target area ≥35%,V150 of 0.8 mCi group was higher than that of 0.4 mCi group,and with the increasing of shrinkage rate,the difference between the two groups become more and more prominent.When the monthly shrinkage rate of tumor target area<25%,Dmean of 0.4 mCi group was higher than that of 0.8 mCi group,when the monthly shrinkage rate of tumor target area ≥25%,Dmean of 0.8 mCi group was higher than that of 0.4 mCi group,and with the increasing of shrinkage rate,the difference between the two groups become more and more obvious.Conclusion With the same prescription dose,when the tumor target area shrinks at a rate of<30%per month,the activity of 125I particles has little effect on D90,and all V90,V100,V150 and Dmean in the low activity group are higher than those in the high activity group,meanwhile the homogeneity of the target area is relatively good;when the monthly shrinkage rate of tumor target area ≥35%,all D90,V90,V100,V150 and Dmean in the high activity group are higher than those in the low activity group,and the duration of the presence of high-dose area is long.This difference becomes more obvious with the increasing of the monthly shrinkage rate of the target area.
10.The impact of 125I seeds strand length on different reference points dose
Ke XU ; Dingxin WANG ; Guozhang XING ; Huimin YU ; Jinxin ZHAO ; Zezhou LIU ; Zeyang WANG ; Hongtao ZHANG ; Juan WANG
Journal of Interventional Radiology 2025;34(6):609-613
Objective To investigate the effect of different strand lengths of 125I seeds with the same activity on the dose of different reference points around the seeds.Methods The scanned images were transferred to the three-dimensional treatment planning system(3D-TPS)according to DICOM format.The target volume was delineated at 5 mm and 10 mm above and below the center of the phantom,and a 0.8 mCi seeds strand was simulated.The 1-20 seeds were arranged with an equal spacing of 5 mm(5 mm-100 mm).The 5 mm points above and below the center of the seeds strand were defined as point A and point A',and the 10 mm points above and below the center were defined as point B and point B'.5 mm above and below the edge of the seeds strand on the left side were defined as AL points and AL'points,and 5 mm above and below the edge of the seeds strand on the right side were defined as AR points and AR'points.Similarly,points 10 mm above the above mentioned positions were defined as BL points,BL'points,BR points,BR'points.The average dose symmetry points were measured at AL,AL',AR,and 5 mm,10 mm,15 mm and 20 mm inside AR' of the 45 mm-100 mm seeds strand.The dose at the center was compared with the dose at the end points.The dose at the center point A was compared with the average dose at the symmetry points of 5 mm,10 mm,15 mm and 20 mm inside of the end points AL,AL',AR and AR',and the dose at each point was curve fitting.The correlation between each point and seeds strands of different lengths was analyzed.Results There was a positive correlation between the dose and the length of each point.There was no statistically significant difference between the center point and the end point.There was a statistically significant difference in dosage at points 5 mm and 10 mm inside from point A,while there was no statistically significant difference in dosage at points 15 mm and 20 mm inside from point A.The dose of A,A',B and B' point increased steadily with the increase of seed chain length,and the fitting curves were obtained respectively:y=e(-0.620/x+5.28)(R2=0.992),y=e(-0.640/x+5.34)(R2=0.987),y=e(-0.82/x+4.80)(R2=0.984),y=e(-0.82/x+4.83)(R2=0.9g1).Conclusion The doses at points A,A',B,and B'are positively correlated with seeds strand length and have a high degree of stability.Point A can be used as a reference point for the target area dose of the seeds strand,and point B can be used as a reference point for the dose to critical organs.The dose at other positions is more variable and thus has a certain degree of uncertainty as a reference point for the seeds strand dose.

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