Molecular medicine, which delves into the intricacies of biomolecular structure, function, and role, is pivotal for advancing precise diagnostics and personalized treatment. Nucleic acids, a class of star functional molecules, are notable for their versatile applications in molecular diagnostics, gene therapy, and drug development. Therefore, in this study, we review the extensive use of nucleic acid aptamers in medicinal practice. Furthermore, the expanding field of molecular medicine has catalyzed advancements in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), as evidenced by scientific endeavors to integrate modern technologies. Therefore, TCM has experienced rapid modernization by leveraging artificial intelligence, nucleic acid molecular medicine, and bioelectronic medicine.

In this article, we present a comprehensive overview of the regulatory landscape governing Chinese medicinal practices in Australia, in which we describe the regulations for Chinese medicine practitioners in Australia, as of 2024, focusing in particular on the Title Protection model under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law. Central to this discussion are the core roles of the Chinese Medicine Board of Australia (the Board) and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) in ensuring public safety by guaranteeing that practitioners are appropriately qualified and suitable for registration. We also examine the structure and demographics of the Chinese medicine workforce in Australia and present details of the required registration process for practitioners. In addition, the article outlines specific requirements for registration, including the standards set by the Board for initial and ongoing registration, which are administered with the support of Ahpra under the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme. Furthermore, we present details regarding the approved qualifications, the rigorous assessment process for overseas qualifications, and the important role of regulatory examinations designed to uphold the high standards expected of practitioners, thereby ensuring they have acquired the professional competencies required by the Australian healthcare system. This overview offers valuable insights for both current and prospective practitioners of Chinese medicine in Australia.

Objective: To confirm the therapeutic efficacy of the ginkgo biloba extract EGb761 on ischemic stroke and elucidate its underlying mechanism. Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups: sham, model, and EGb761 (ginkgo biloba extract). Ischemic stroke was then simulated in rats via embolic middle cerebral artery occlusion surgery, with the extract administered half an hour before surgery. Neurological deficit scores, infarct volume, cerebral edema rate, and inflammatory factors served as the primary metrics for drug efficacy. Serum metabolites were analyzed using 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance to elucidate the operative mechanism. Results: Treatment with the ginkgo biloba extract EGb761 significantly ameliorated the neurological deficit scores (P = .0343), diminished the cerebral infarct volume (P = .0001) and cerebral edema rate (P = .0030), and alleviated neuroinflammation (all P < .05) in middle cerebral artery occlusion rats. In addition, it significantly altered the contents of various metabolites, such as 2-hydroxybutyrate, isoleucine, isopropanol, isobutyric acid, N6-acetyllysine, glutamate, glutamine, methionine, and N,N-dimethylglycine (all P < .05). Enrichment analysis of the differential metabolites indicated that EGb761 may be involved in the regulation of amino acid metabolism, betaine metabolism, glucose-alanine cycle, Warburg effect, and urea cycle. Conclusion The ginkgo biloba extract EGb761 demonstrates anti-ischemic stroke effect on ischemic stroke model rats by regulating amino acids and amino acid derivatives, such as isoleucine, N6-acetyllysine, glutamate, methionine, and N,N-dimethylglycine.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the correlation between the incidence of acute mountain sickness (AMS) and the body constitution of Tibetan medicine and other relevant factors to provide a reference for the prediction and prevention of AMS. Methods: A case–control study was conducted to recruit participants who experienced or did not experience AMS after entering a plateau. The data was collected through online questionnaires for convenient sampling. Demographic characteristics, body constitution, and related states or behaviors were investigated before and after entering the plateau. The participants were divided into case and control groups based on the incidence of AMS. The distributions of relevant factors were compared. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to screen for risk and protective factors. Results: There were 167 participants who completed the questionnaire. A total of 54 cases were excluded, and 113 participants were included, including 52 in the case group and 61 in the control group. In the case group, 37, 13, and 2 patients had mild, moderate, and severe AMS, respectively. In terms of the Tibetan medicine constitution, the case group had the highest proportion of Bad-rlung (25.0%) and Rlung types (21.2%), whereas the control group had the highest proportion of Bad-rlung (29.5%) and Mkhris-bad types (24.6%). There was no significant difference in the distribution of the constitutional types between the two groups. Insomnia or insufficient sleep within the week prior to entering the plateau and fatigue after arrival were risk factors for AMS, with odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of 5.012 (1.871–13.426) and 3.387 (1.393–8.236), respectively. A history of short-term plateau travel is a protective factor for AMS (OR: 0.32, 95% CI: 0.129 to 0.792). Conclusion Insomnia or lack of sleep before ascending to a plateau and fatigue after arrival are risk factors for AMS. The Rlung constitution might be related to the incidence of AMS; however, this still needs to be verified in large-sample observational studies. The risk factors identified in this study can provide a reference for the prevention practice and research of AMS.

Objective: To investigate the potential protective effect of Shexiang Tongxin dropping pills (STDP) on ischemia-reperfusion injury and its underlying mechanisms in improving endothelial cell function in coronary microvascular disease (CMVD). Methods: A rat model of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury with CMVD was established using ligation and reperfusion of the left anterior descending artery. The effect of STDP (21.6 mg/kg) on cardiac function was evaluated using echocardiography, hematoxylin-eosin staining, and Evans blue staining. The effects of STDP on the microvascular endothelial barrier were assessed based on nitric oxide production, endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression, structural variety of tight junctions (TJs), and the expression of zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), claudin-5, occludin, and vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin proteins. The mechanisms of STDP (50 and 100 ng/mL) were evaluated by examining the expression of sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor 2 (S1PR2), Ras Homolog family member A (RhoA), and Rho-associated coiled-coil-containing protein kinase (ROCK) proteins and the distribution of ZO-1, VE-cadherin, and F-actin proteins in an oxygen and glucose deprivation/reoxygenation model. Results: The administration of STDP on CMVD rat model significantly improved cardiac and microvascular endothelial cell barrier functions (all P < .05). STDP enhanced the structural integrity of coronary microvascular positioning and distribution by clarifying and completing TJs and increasing the expression of ZO-1, occludin, claudin-5, and VE-cadherin in vivo (all P < .05). The S1PR2/RhoA/ROCK pathway was inhibited by STDP in vitro, leading to the regulation of endothelial cell TJs, adhesion junctions, and cytoskeletal morphology. Conclusion STDP showed protective effects on cardiac impairment and microvascular endothelial barrier injury in CMVD model rats induced by myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury through the modulation of the S1PR2/RhoA/ROCK pathway.

Objective: To explore the mechanism of action of Zangjiangzhi capsule (ZJZC) in treating hyperlipidemia (HLP). Methods: The components of ZJZC were analyzed and identified using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with Q-Exactive Orbitrap tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-Exactive-Orbitrap-MS/MS). Network pharmacology analysis was used to explore the mechanism of action of ZJZC in HLP treatment. The SwissTargetPrediction database was used to predict compound targets, and GeneCards, DisGeNet, OMIM, and DRUGBANK databases were used to identify HLP-related targets. Protein–protein interaction diagrams were constructed using the STRING database. The targets were subjected to gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis. The “herb-ingredient-target” network was visualized using Cytoscape. Preliminary validation was performed using molecular docking and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Ninety compounds were identified in ZJZC, including 34 flavonoids, 12 phenols, 10 terpenoids, 10 alkaloids, 8 organic acids, 8 anthraquinones, and 9 other compounds. In total, 904 targets were identified for these compounds. Among them, 158 targets intersected with the HLP target network. Network pharmacology analysis showed that MAPK1, PPAR-α, RXRA, HSP90AA1, PIK3R1, AKT1, PIK3CA, IL6, TNF, and ESR1 are the key targets of action. KEGG enrichment analysis identified 164 pathways. Among these, the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications, lipid and atherosclerosis pathways, regulation of lipids in adipocytes, and insulin resistance are related to HLP. Molecular docking showed good affinity between the key targets and ingredients. Further, ZJZC treatment in mice resulted in lower expression of MAPK1 protein and increased expression of PPAR-α protein, which have been shown to be strongly associated with HLP. Conclusions This study showed that ZJZC contains various active ingredients and can modulate multiple targets and pathways associated with HLP, providing evidence at the molecular level for its clinical application in the treatment of HLP.

Objective: To establish a progressive research strategy for “colonic components analysis - efficacy verification and mechanism exploration - gut microbiota”, screen pharmacodynamic substances, and investigate their mechanism via gut microbiota. Methods: The pharmacodynamics of Gegen Qinlian decoction (GQD) were assessed using a mouse model of dextran sulfate sodium-induced ulcerative colitis (UC). Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-orbitrap mass spectrometer was used to identify the prototype and metabolic components of GQD in the colon during UC. To analyze the structure and function of characteristic genera of GQD and its active components, 16S rRNA sequencing was performed. Results: We identified 67 prototypic and 14 metabolic components of GQD in the UC colon. The primary prototype components are flavonoids and alkaloids, including puerarin (PUE), baicalin (BAI), and berberine (BER). The metabolism was predominantly sulfonation. Efficacy verification showed that the main active components, puerarin, baicalin, and berberine, had good therapeutic effects on UC. The results of 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that GQD improved UC by regulating the structure and function of the gut microbiota. The abundance of gut microbiota involved in the metabolism of the prototype components was influenced by the corresponding components. The function prediction results showed that PUE was the most comparable to GQD, with 24 consistent pathways. BAI and BER showed comparable gut microbiota regulation pathways. Characteristic pathways of BER include glucometabolic processes. Conclusion This study focused on the key issues in the gut microbiota pathway and developed a progressive research strategy to understand the transformation mechanisms of colonic components. This research systematically analyzed the active components and metabolic transformation of GQD in the colon during the pathological state of UC, as well as changes in the structure and function of the gut microbiota, clarified the mechanism of GQD and its active components in improving UC via the gut microbiota pathway.

Objective: To investigate the potential efficacy and safety of Lutai Danshen Baishao granules (LDBG) for treating female melasma associated with kidney deficiency and blood stasis patterns. Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted at the Third Central Hospital of Tianjin, China from March to December 2023. A total of 110 female patients with melasma linked to kidney deficiency and blood stasis were enrolled and treated with either LDBG or a placebo twice daily for 60 days. Efficacy was assessed through measures such as the total melasma area, reduced melasma area, reduction rate of melasma area, melasma color score, Melasma Area and Severity Index (MASI) score, and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) symptom score scale. Safety assessments included routine blood and biochemical tests. Results: Participants in both groups were aged 52–63 years, with no significant differences. After the 2-month intervention, the total melasma area decreased in both groups; however, a greater reduction was observed in the test group [462.50 mm2 (12.81%) vs. 100.00 mm2 (3.11%), P < .001]. Moreover, LDBG treatment significantly reduced the MASI and melasma color scores in the test group (P < .05). The total TCM symptom evaluation score significantly decreased (test group: 6.00 vs. placebo group: 7.00, P = .001), with significant relief in symptoms such as improvement in dark lips, nails, and waist soreness in the test group, compared with that in the placebo group (P < .05). Within-group comparisons revealed that TCM syndrome was significantly alleviated in the test group (P < .05). Conclusion LDBG intervention shows promising effectiveness in reducing female melasma and alleviating TCM syndromes.

Objective: To observed the effect of a curcumin-based vaginal gel combined with electroporation for the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) caused by Candida albicans. Methods: Temperature-sensitive in situ gels (ISG) were prepared using poloxamers 407 and 188 as matrices. The mass ratio of poloxamer 407 and poloxamer 188 was 7:1 with a gelation temperature of approximately 29°C and gelation time of 2.5 min. Results: Electroporation increased the transmucosal permeability of the model drug, doxorubicin and improved the antifungal effects of curcumin. In vitro antifungal experiments showed that the number of fungal colonies in curcumin ISG combined with electroporation was lower than that in pure curcumin ISG. In vivo pharmacodynamic experiments showed that, compared to the model group, curcumin ISG with electroporation inhibited the growth of C. albicans, alleviated vaginal mucosal edema, and reduced the inflammatory response. Conclusion Curcumin ISG combined with electroporation has substantial potential for the efficient clinical treatment of VVC.