Microvascular diseases （MVD） can affect multiple systems in the body and are important factors in the occurrence and development of cardiovascular， cerebrovascular， renal， and metabolic diseases， as well as the aging process. It is proposed that the key pathogenesis of MVD is "cold constraint in sanjiao （三焦）". Based on the theory of cold pathogen， and by integrating the common and local pathologies of sanjiao， a treatment principle of promoting blood circulation and warming is established. A basic prescription for promoting blood circulation and warming is formulated， with modifications based on the specific pathogenesis of the upper， middle， and lower jiao （焦）. For the upper jiao， cold constraint primarily involves the failure of the clear yang to rise and qi and blood stagnation， for which treatment should focus on diffusing and unblocking the heart and the lung， opening constraint and vibrating yang， commonly adding Shengxian Decoction （升陷汤） for warming and dispersing to assist in diffusion and dissipation， and using Guizhi Decoction （桂枝汤）-series formulas to harmonize ying-wei （营卫） and open the striae and interstices； both formulas can invigorate yang qi. For the middle jiao， cold constraint primarily involves the dysfunction of the central yang and internal accumulation of turbid pathogen， for which treatment should focus on harmonizing the spleen and stomach， warming and reinforcing yang； formulas such as Sini Powder （四逆散）， Zhishi Xiaopi Pill （枳实消痞丸）， and Banxia Xiexin Decoction （半夏泻心汤） can be used to restore qi flow， promote digestion， and balance cold and heat； Shengyang Yiwei Decoction （升阳益胃汤） can further enhance raising the clear and directing the turbid downward， expelling cold and removing dampness. For the lower jiao， cold constraint primarily involves damage to the original yang and dysfunction of qi transformation， for which the treatment should focus on tonifying original qi and reinforcing the foundation， as well as promoting diuresis and supporting yang； depending on the degree of deficiency and the presence of internal water accumulation， formulas like Jingui Shenqi Pill （金匮肾气丸）， Fuzi Decoction （附子汤）， and Zhenwu Decoction （真武汤） can be used. Based on the theory of cold constraint， the principle of promoting blood circulation and warming method runs through the differentiation and treatment of MVD. By further incorporating the pathological characteristics of sanjiao， flexible treatment strategies can be developed， which helps deepen the understanding of the disease's etiology and pathogenesis， while broadening clinical diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

It is proposed that cold pathogen plays an important promoting role in the onset and progression of hyperlipidemia. External exposure to cold， the gradual generation of internal cold， and the covert consumption of yang qi caused by modern lifestyle factors may all provide a pathological basis for the development of hyperlipidemia. Based on the pathogenic characteristics of cold， namely its tendency to damage yang， induce stagnation， and cause contraction， this paper suggests that the treatment of hyperlipidemia should focus on warming and tonifying， warming and resolving， and warming and unblocking， respectively. This provides a theoretical reference for the diagnosis and treatment of hyperlipidemia with traditional Chinese medicine.

ObjectiveTo explore the potential mechanism by which Huoxue Wentong prescription （HXWT） ameliorates post-myocardial infarction （MI） ventricular remodeling by regulating endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition （EndMT） via the hypoxia-inducible factor-1α （HIF-1α）/transforming growth factor-β₁ （TGF-β₁）/periostin （POSTN） signaling pathway. MethodsEighty SPF-grade male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to a sham-operated group （n=10） and a modeling group （n=70）. The MI model was established by left anterior descending coronary artery ligation. Successfully modeled rats were further randomized into a model group， a sacubitril/valsartan （Entresto， 0.021 g·kg^-1） group， and low， medium， and high-dose （4.15， 8.30， and 16.60 g·kg^-1， respectively） HXWTF groups （n=10 per group）. From postoperative day 2， rats received HXWTF or sacubitril/valsartan by gavage once daily for 4 weeks， and those in sham and model groups received an equal volume of normal saline. After intervention， general conditions were assessed. Echocardiography was performed to measure the left ventricular ejection fraction （LVEF）， left ventricular fractional shortening （LVFS）， left ventricular end diastolic diameter （LVEDD）， and left ventricular end systolic diameter （LVESD）. Hematoxylin and eosin （HE） staining was employed to evaluate myocardial histopathology， and Masson's trichrome staining to assess myocardial fibrosis. Serum levels of B-type natriuretic peptide （BNP）， interleukin （IL）-6， IL-10， and matrix metalloproteinase-9 （MMP-9） were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Collagen type Ⅰ （ColⅠ） expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry. Immunofluorescence double staining was adopted to detect the expression of platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 （CD31） and α-smooth muscle actin （α-SMA）. Western blot was performed to quantify the expression of collagen type Ⅰ α2 （Col1A2）， VE-cadherin， CD31， α-SMA， HIF-1α， TGF-β₁， and POSTN. ResultsCompared with the sham group， the model group exhibited thinning and collapse of the left ventricular wall， decreased LVEF and LVFS and increased LVEDD and LVESD （P<0.01）， disrupted myocardial fibers with marked inflammatory cell infiltration， increased collagen deposition， enhanced ColⅠ immunoreactivity， elevate serum BNP， IL-6， and MMP-9 levels， a reduced IL-10 level （P<0.01）， downregulated expression of CD31 and VE-cadherin， and upregulated expression of α-SMA， Col1A2， HIF-1α， TGF-β₁， and POSTN （P<0.05，P<0.01）， accompanied by increased CD31/α-SMA co-localization. Compared with the model group， the sacubitril/valsartan group and all HXWTF groups showed improved ventricular wall structure， increased LVEF and LVFS， decreased LVEDD and LVESD， attenuated myocardial injury with reduced inflammatory infiltration and collagen deposition， declined serum BNP， IL-6， and MMP-9 levels， an elevated serum IL-10 level， upregulated expression of CD31 and VE-cadherin， downregulated expression of α-SMA， Col1A2， HIF-1α， TGF-β₁， and POSTN， and reduced CD31/α-SMA co-localization （P<0.05，P<0.01）. No significant differences were observed between the sacubitril/valsartan group and the medium- and high-dose HXWTF groups. ConclusionHXWTF may regulate the HIF-1α/TGF-β₁/POSTN pathway to inhibit EndMT， thereby ameliorating post-MI ventricular remodeling.

The study explores the traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） diagnostic and treatment approach to coronary microvascular disease （CMVD） from the perspective of "disharmony of blood collaterals and dysfunction of qi transformation". It is proposed that the core pathogenesis of CMVD lies in these two mechanisms. From an integrative medicine perspective， different CMVD types are analyzed based on their specific pathogenesis. Through clinical practice， four targeted treatment methods， i.e. warming， unblocking， tonifying， and activating， are formulated. CMVD caused by atherosclerosis is primarily associated with myocardial ischemia， myocardial infarction， and coronary revascularization， with corresponding pathological mechanisms of latent pathogenic obstruction， toxic accumulation in the collaterals， and deficiency with collateral stasis. The disease progression exhibits characteristics of correlation， staging， and transformation. Accordingly， treatment principles include warming to assist qi transformation， unblocking obstruction and dispelling turbidity， activating to disperse toxic stasis and invigorate collaterals， and tonifying to eliminate stasis and nourish collaterals. For CMVD unrelated to atherosclerosis， attention should be paid to the underlying disease， analyzing the main syndromes of blood and collateral disharmony. An approach combining disease-syndrome differentiation with blood and collateral regulation is emphasized for precise treatment.

Acupuncture-moxibustion therapy has been known to ameliorate the symptoms of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs), although its mechanism remains unclear. The paper reviews the articles on acupuncture-moxibustion therapy for FGIDs in recent 5 years, and it is revealed that acupuncture-moxibustion therapy can alleviate FGIDs symptoms through regulating gastrointestinal motility, modulating visceral hypersensitivity, improving the impaired gastric-duodenal mucosal barrier and inflammation, balancing intestinal microbiota, and adjusting the gut-brain axis. Currently, the molecular mechanism of acupuncture-moxibustion therapy remains unknown for FGIDs, the specific disease target is not identified, and the interaction among various molecules is not elucidated adequately. The researches in the future should employ advanced technologies and methodologies to comprehensively and deeply explore and clarify the mechanism of acupuncture- moxibustion therapy for FGIDs.
Humans ; Moxibustion ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Gastrointestinal Diseases/microbiology* ; Animals

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of moxibustion on small intestinal mucosal immune barrier in rats with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) and explore its underlying mechanisms. METHODS: Of 38 newborn rats from 4 healthy SPF pregnant rats, 12 neonatal rats were randomly selected in a normal group. IBS-D model was prepared by the combined measures for the rest rats, including neonatal maternal separation, acetic acid enema and chronic restraint stress. Twenty-four successfully-modeled rats were randomized into a model group and a moxibustion group, 12 rats in each one. In the moxibustion group, suspending moxibustion was delivered at bilateral "Tianshu" (ST25) and "Shangjuxu" (ST37), 20 min each time, once daily and for 7 consecutive days. Separately, before acetic acid enema (aged 35 days), after modeling (aged 45 days) and after intervention (aged 53 days), the body mass, loose stool rate (LSR) and and the minimum volume threshold when abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) scored 3 were observed in the rats of each group. After intervention (aged 53 days), using HE and PAS staining, the morphology of duodenum was observed, the length of villus and the depth of crypt were measured, the ratio of the length of villus to the depth of crypt was calculated; and the numbers of mucosal intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) and goblet cells were counted. With ELISA adopted, the contents of γ-interferon (IFN-γ), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) in duodenal mucosa of rats were detected. The proportion of T cell subsets in duodenal mucosa was detected using flow cytometry. The microvilli and tight junctions of duodenal mucosal epithelial cells were observed by transmission electron microscopy, and the integrity of duodenal mucosa observed by scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS: Compared with the normal group, for the rats in the model group, the body mass, the minimum volume threshold when AWR scored 3, the length of duodenal villus and the the ratio of the length of villus to the depth of crypt, as well as the proportion of CD₈⁺ T subset were all reduced (P<0.01, P<0.05), the counts of goblet cells in duodenal mucosa decreased (P<0.01); LRS, the proportion of CD₄⁺ T subset and CD₄⁺/CD₈⁺, as well as the contents of IFN-γ, IL-4 and sIgA in duodenal mucosa and IFN-γ/IL-4 were all elevated (P<0.01); and the numbers of IELs rose (P<0.01). The morphology of duodenal mucosa was irregular, the villi got shorter, sparse and scattered, with uneven density. The morphology of epithelial cells was destroyed and the tight junctions damaged, with larger spaces. When compared with the model group, in the moxibustion group, the body mass, the minimum volume threshold when AWR scored 3, the length of duodenal villus and the ratio of the length of villus to the depth of crypt, as well as the counts of goblet cells in duodenal mucosa increased (P<0.01); LRS, the proportion of CD₄⁺ T subset, and CD₄⁺/CD₈⁺, as well as the contents of IFN-γ, IL-4 and sIgA in duodenal mucosa and IFN-γ/IL-4 were reduced (P<0.01); and the numbers of IELs was dropped (P<0.01). The morphology of duodenal mucosa was more regular, the villi were grew, got longer and arranged regularly, with even density. The morphology of epithelial cells was slightly destroyed, and the tight junctions partially damaged. CONCLUSION Moxibustion at "Tianshu" (ST25) and "Shangjuxu" (ST37) can reduce visceral hypersensitivity in IBS-D rats and relieve abdominal pain, diarrhea and other symptoms. Its effect mechanism may be related to the repair of small intestinal mucosal immune barrier and the improvement in the immune function in IBS-D.
Animals ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome/immunology* ; Rats ; Moxibustion ; Intestinal Mucosa/immunology* ; Female ; Diarrhea/therapy* ; Intestine, Small/immunology* ; Male ; Humans ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Disease Models, Animal

Based on the clinical thinking of combining diseases and patterns， we combined disease identification， pattern differentiation， and constitution identification， and put forward the theory of identifying and treating critical hypertension， which is "examining the symptoms first， identifying the constitutions as reference， and combining the diseases and patterns". Firstly， the starting point of identifying the disease is to examine the symptoms， and those with precise diagnosis and strong specificity will be diagnosed with the disease， while those with relatively broad diagnosis and fuzzy characteristics will be emphasised on identifying constitutions and differentiating patterns. Focusing on the impact of constitution identification on disease identification and pattern differentiation， constitution identification could be the basis when no symptoms to identify， and based on the theory of "constitution-disease correlation" and "constitution-pattern correlation" to improve the understanding of borderline hypertension from the group and individual level， which helps to identify and predict the development of the diseases and patterns； if the symptoms are complicated and difficult to identify， it is necessary to take syndrome as the outline， use the syndrome to unify the disease， and then refer to the constitution to legislate and prescribe medications. This paper summarizes the traditional Chinese medicine clinical differentiation and treatment strategy of borderline hypertension clear and easy to grasp， with a view to provide a feasible and efficient reference for prevention and treatment of borderline hypertension with traditional Chinese medicine.

In the theory of "opening-closing-pivoting"， the opening and closing pivot of a portal is used as a metaphor for the operating state of human qi and blood. Opening， closing and pivoting are well functioned together to maintain stable blood pressure， otherwise the imbalance of qi， blood， yin and yang in the body occurs when any of them is abnormal， thereby causing hypertension. During treatment， it is necessary to identify the impaired state of the three functions. If the "opening" is abnormal， it should be treated to restore qi’s function of external defense and distribution. If the "closing" is abnormal， it is necessary to regulate the deficiency and excess state of yang qi and restore the storage function. For "pivoting" disorder， it should be the key to regulate the circulation of qi and blood. Combined with clinical symptoms， the main treatment methods such as "sweat promotion"， "warming"， "clearing"， "purgation"， "supplementation" and "harmonization" are used to restore the function of the "opening-closing-pivoting"， making the blood and vessels of the body unblocked， and qi ascending and descending balanced， in order to achieve the effect of "moving pivot to facilitate opening and closing" and "opening and closing to transport pivot".

Objective: To investigate the mechanism of moxibustion in the treatment of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D), by observing the effects of moxibustion at Tianshu (ST25) and Shangjuxu (ST37) on microRNA-133b (miRNA-133b), pituitary homeobox family factor 3 (Pitx3)/tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), and neurotransmitters in the brain tissue of IBS-D rats. Methods: Healthy Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a moxibustion group, and a Western medicine group, with 12 rats in each group. Except for the normal group, the IBS-D rat model was established by mother-offspring separation and acetic acid enema combined with restraint stress stimulation in all the other groups. No intervention was performed in the normal and model groups. Mild moxibustion was applied to both Tianshu (ST25) and Shangjuxu (ST37) in the moxibustion group. Rifaximin was given by gavage in the Western medicine group. The physical status of rats in each group was observed at different periods. After the intervention, hematoxylin- eosin staining was performed to observe the histopathological morphology of rat colon; enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure the levels of dopamine (DA), noradrenaline (NE), and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in plasma, colon, and midbrain tissue of rats; the relative expression levels of miRNA-133b, Pitx3 mRNA, and TH mRNA in the midbrain tissue were measured by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and the relative expression levels of Pitx3 and TH proteins in the midbrain tissue were measured by Western blotting and immunofluorescence. Results: The body weights of rats among groups and at different time points were statistically different (P<0.01). The body weight of the normal group was higher than that of the other groups over time (P<0.01). After modeling, the minimum volume threshold of abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) was significantly lower (P<0.01) and the loose stool rate was significantly higher (P<0.01) in the model, moxibustion, and Western medicine groups compared with the normal group; the miRNA-133b expression in the midbrain tissue was significantly lower (P<0.01), the expression levels of Pitx3 and TH in the midbrain tissue were significantly higher (P<0.01), and the levels of DA, NE, and 5-HT in plasma, colon and midbrain tissue were significantly higher (P<0.01). After the intervention, the minimum volume threshold of AWR was significantly higher (P<0.01), the loose stool rate was significantly lower (P<0.01), the miRNA-133b expression was significantly increased (P<0.01 or P<0.05) and the expression levels of Pitx3 and TH were significantly decreased (P<0.01) in the midbrain tissue, the levels of DA, NE, and 5-HT in plasma, colon, and midbrain tissue were significantly reduced (P<0.01) in the moxibustion and Western medicine groups compared with the model group; the levels of 5-HT in the colon and midbrain tissue of the moxibustion group were significantly lower than those in the Western medicine group (P<0.05), and there was no statistical difference compared with the remaining groups (P>0.05). Linear correlation analysis showed that miRNA-133b was negatively correlated with Pitx3 (r<0, P<0.01); Pitx3 with TH, TH with DA, and NE with 5-HT were positively correlated (r>0, P<0.01).Conclusion: Moxibustion at Tianshu (ST25) and Shangjuxu (ST37) improves diarrhea symptoms and visceral hypersensitivity in IBS-D rats. The mechanism may be related to up-regulating miRNA-133b, inhibiting Pitx3/TH, and reducing neurotransmitter expression levels in the midbrain tissue.

Objective:To develop the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) symptom scores of qi depression and phlegm obstruction patternfor dyslipidemia patients, in order to optimize the TCM pattern evaluation method.Methods:According to Delphi method, the two roundsquestionnaires were distributed to experts through face-to-face interviews or emails, survey were recorded and analyzed via Excel 2016 and SPSS 17.0.Results:The experts are members of the Standing Committee of the Cardiovascular Diseases Branch of the China Association of Chinese Medicine, and the number of experts in the two rounds was 30 and 33, respectively. Active coefficients of both rounds were 100%. The Cronbach’s Alpha of consultations in the first and second rounds were 0.896 and 0.885, respectively. There were 36 symptom items in the initial scales of TCM symptom scores. In the first round, 17 items were eliminated, and in the second round, 1 item was added, 5 items were eliminated. The 15 items scales includededobesity, dizziness, head weight such as wrapping, head faintness, mouth viscosity, phlegm, chest depression, chest and flank distension, abdominal distension, heavy numbness, fatigue and fatigue, body weight, depression, stagnant stool and sighing frequently. The items for symptom rating scale were suitable.Conclusion:The TCM symptom scores of qi depression and phlegm obstruction pattern can be used to evaluate the effect of TCM treatment for the patients with dyslipidemia and TCM pattern of qi depression with phlegm obstruction, and the studyprovides important guidance for TCM in the diagnosis and treatment of dyslipidemia. In addition, the enthusiasm and authority of experts, as well as its concentration, reliability and coordination, are all well considered in this study, and the results of this consultation are desirable.