1.Mechanism of Kidney-tonifying Therapy in Treating Panvascular Disease Through "Immune-metabolic-genetic" Axis
Xuan SUN ; Jie WANG ; Zhenpeng ZHANG ; Lanchun LIU ; Yongmei LIU ; Chao LIU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(1):1-11
Pan vascular disease (PVD) is a systemic vascular disorder that has become the leading cause of death among the Chinese residents, and there is currently a lack of effective systemic treatment options. Clinical practice has found that the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) method of kidney tonification can effectively intervene in PVD and target key pathological mechanisms of PVD recognized in Western medicine. Accordingly, this paper conducts research from the following three aspects: First, it clarifies that immune dysregulation, metabolic disorders, and genetic susceptibility constitute the core pathological mechanisms of PVD in Western medicine. Typical pathological manifestations include progressive vascular endothelial injury, lipid deposition, and plaque formation, ultimately leading to multi-organ damage and dysfunction. PVD activates pathways such as the NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain-associated protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, triggering immune dysregulation; it also induces disorders of mitochondrial energy metabolism, water-salt metabolism, and hormonal metabolism, synergizing with genetic susceptibility factors (e.g., apolipoprotein E gene) to accelerate vascular homeostasis imbalance. Second, this study analyzes the intrinsic relationship between the TCM theory of "kidney deficiency" and the "immune-metabolic-genetic" axis, revealing the theoretical basis for kidney tonification in intervening PVD. The kidney stores essence, governs bones, and produces marrow, which is related to the generation and differentiation of immune cells. It regulates Qi transformation and governs water, overseeing material and energy metabolism. The kidney is the root of congenital essence and governs reproduction, closely related to genetic mechanisms. Third, by integrating modern clinical research, this study elaborates on the unique advantages and clinical value of kidney tonification in targeting the "immune-metabolic-genetic" axis of heart, brain, and kidney organs. Traditional kidney-tonifying formulas and their active ingredients improve immune-inflammatory responses, enhance material and energy metabolism homeostasis, and modulate epigenetic pathways through multiple pathways, targeting various pathways to intervene in PVD. This study systematically elucidates the scientific connotation of kidney tonification in treating PVD, providing theoretical support and practical guidance for integrated TCM-Western medicine approaches and contributing to innovation and improvement in diagnostic and treatment strategies for PVD.
2.Exploring Pathogenesis, Prevention and Treatment Strategies of Panvascular Diseases Based on ''Latent Pathogen'' Theory
Ruoqi ZHANG ; Jie WANG ; Lanchun LIU ; Chao LIU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(1):23-29
Panvascular diseases refer to systemic vascular lesions with atherosclerosis as its common pathological basis, affecting the vascular networks of multiple organs such as the heart, brain, kidneys, limbs, and large arteries. This concept transcends the limitations of traditional classifications and promotes comprehensive vascular health management through multidisciplinary collaboration. Latent pathogenic factors play a critical role in the pathogenesis of panvascular diseases. They remain dormant within the body until finding an opportunity to manifest, which aligns closely with the characteristics of panvascular diseases, including their early covert progression and subsequent adverse vascular events. According to the ''latent pathogen'' theory, this article elucidates the pathogenesis of panvascular diseases from latent pathogen, vessel damage, and healthy Qi consumption. It posits that the disease onset involves a pathological process progressing from Qi to blood, with endothelial injury serving as the initiating factor. Disease progression encompasses changes from blood to vessels, with inflammatory responses accelerating the disease course. A comprehensive traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) based prevention and treatment system has been developed, dividing the disease course into three stages. In the early stage, pathogenic factors lurk in the vessels, primarily manifesting as abnormal lipid metabolism. In the middle stage, pathogenic factors evolve, leading to inflammatory cascade reactions. In the late stage, pathogenic factors become excessive while positive factors decline, resulting in abnormal energy metabolism. Three core therapeutic approaches-invigorating the spleen and resolving phlegm, activating blood and resolving stasis, and reinforcing healthy Qi and nourishing deficiency-have been established to address key pathological links. In conjunction with modern medical research, the mechanisms of these methods in regulating lipid metabolism, inhibiting inflammatory responses, and modulating energy metabolism to prevent and treat panvascular diseases are explained. It is anticipated that this theoretical framework will enrich the diagnostic and therapeutic thinking in TCM for panvascular diseases and provide a theoretical foundation for constructing TCM-characteristic prevention and treatment plans for panvascular diseases.
3.Exploration in Relationship Between Mitochondrial Homeostasis Dysregulation and Panvascular Diseases Based on Theory of ''Positive Deficiency Phlegm Stasis''
Hongping LI ; Jie WANG ; Zhenpeng ZHANG ; Chao LIU ; Lanchun LIU ; Chengzhi HOU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(1):30-38
Panvascular diseases represent systemic vascular disorders characterized by atherosclerosis as their core pathological feature. Their incidence rates continue to rise, posing significant challenges for clinical management. Based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory of ''positive deficiency phlegm stasis'', this study delved into the pivotal role of mitochondrial homeostasis dysregulation in the pathogenesis and progression of pan-vascular diseases, along with its intrinsic connection to TCM pathogenesis. Mitochondrial homeostasis dysregulation pervades the entire course of these diseases, with mitochondrial oxidative stress serving as the initiating factor. Excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) trigger endothelial dysfunction, lipid accumulation, and inflammatory initiation. Additionally, the imbalance between mitochondrial autophagy and apoptosis constitutes a pivotal link in disease progression. Excessive or insufficient autophagy may lead to the accumulation of damaged mitochondria and excessive cellular apoptosis, thereby promoting plaque instability. Furthermore, mitochondrial metabolic reprogramming impairs energy supply and function in vascular wall cells, hindering subsequent vascular repair. These pathological processes constitute the microscopic manifestation of the core pathogenesis, which is characterized by ''the intermingle of phlegm and stasis and the deficiency of healthy Qi''. Specifically, the endogenous phlegm-turbidity drives mitochondrial oxidative stress injuries, the mutual entanglement of phlegm and stasis induces an imbalance between mitochondrial autophagy and apoptosis, while deficiency of healthy Qi propels mitochondrial energy metabolism disorders and reprogramming. In view of this, this study proposed to employ phlegm-resolving and turbidity-clearing methods to mitigate mitochondrial oxidative stress injuries, phlegm-resolving and blood-activating methods to regulate mitochondrial autophagy and apoptosis, and spleen-tonifying and kidney-nourishing methods to modulate mitochondrial metabolic reprogramming. This approach can prevent and treat panvascular diseases by multi-target regulation of mitochondrial homeostasis, providing a theoretical framework and therapeutic strategies for the prevention and treatment of panvascular diseases through integrated Chinese and Western medicine.
4.Connotation and Prevention Strategies of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Panvascular Diseases
Jie WANG ; Jun LI ; Yan DONG ; Cong CHEN ; Yongmei LIU ; Chao LIU ; Lanchun LIU ; Xuan SUN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(7):1-14
Panvascular disease, with vascular diseases as the common pathological feature, is mainly manifested as atherosclerosis. Panvascular disease mainly affects the important organs of the heart, brain, kidney, and limbs. It is one of the leading causes of death for Chinese residents at present. Previously, due to the narrow branches of disciplines, too much attention was paid to local lesions, resulting in the neglect of panvascular disease as a systemic one. The fact that panvascular disease has overall pathology and comprehensive and individualized treatment strategies, makes the disease highly compatible with the principles of holism concept and syndrome differentiation and treatment in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). It is believed that blood stasis is the core pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and is involved in the whole process of atherosclerosis. The theories of ''blood vessel'', ''meridians'', ''visceral manifestation'', and ''organs-meridians'' in TCM are helpful to comprehensively understand the complexity of panvascular diseases. Moreover, those theories can provide systematic treatment strategies. The TCM syndromes of panvascular diseases evolve from ''phlegm, stasis, stagnation, and deficiency''. Panvascular arteriosclerosis is related to the syndrome of ''stasis and phlegm'', and the treatment mainly promotes blood circulation and removes phlegm. There are different specific drugs and mechanisms of action for coronary atherosclerosis, cerebral atherosclerosis, and renal artery atherosclerotic stenosis. Panvascular venous lesions are related to the syndrome of ''deficiency and stasis'' in TCM, and the TCM treatment mainly invigorates Qi and promotes blood circulation, which can inhibit venous thrombosis, improve venous ulcers, and resist venous endothelial damage. Panvascular microcirculatory lesions are inseparable from the ''stagnation and stasis'' in TCM, and the treatment mainly promotes Qi and dredges collaterals, which has a good effect on coronary microvascular lesions, diabetic microvascular lesions, pulmonary microvascular lesions, and pancreatic microvascular lesions. Panvascular lymphatic lesions are related to the syndrome of ''water and stasis'' in TCM. The treatment method focuses on promoting blood circulation and water excretion, which can promote lymphangiogenesis and enhance lymphatic reflux. In addition, the combination of TCM and modern technology, especially the application of artificial intelligence, can improve the efficiency of early identification and personalized treatment, resulting in early screening and comprehensive management of panvascular diseases. Therefore, TCM will play a vital role in the prevention and treatment of panvascular diseases.
5.Connotation and Prevention Strategies of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Panvascular Diseases
Jie WANG ; Jun LI ; Yan DONG ; Cong CHEN ; Yongmei LIU ; Chao LIU ; Lanchun LIU ; Xuan SUN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(7):1-14
Panvascular disease, with vascular diseases as the common pathological feature, is mainly manifested as atherosclerosis. Panvascular disease mainly affects the important organs of the heart, brain, kidney, and limbs. It is one of the leading causes of death for Chinese residents at present. Previously, due to the narrow branches of disciplines, too much attention was paid to local lesions, resulting in the neglect of panvascular disease as a systemic one. The fact that panvascular disease has overall pathology and comprehensive and individualized treatment strategies, makes the disease highly compatible with the principles of holism concept and syndrome differentiation and treatment in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). It is believed that blood stasis is the core pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and is involved in the whole process of atherosclerosis. The theories of ''blood vessel'', ''meridians'', ''visceral manifestation'', and ''organs-meridians'' in TCM are helpful to comprehensively understand the complexity of panvascular diseases. Moreover, those theories can provide systematic treatment strategies. The TCM syndromes of panvascular diseases evolve from ''phlegm, stasis, stagnation, and deficiency''. Panvascular arteriosclerosis is related to the syndrome of ''stasis and phlegm'', and the treatment mainly promotes blood circulation and removes phlegm. There are different specific drugs and mechanisms of action for coronary atherosclerosis, cerebral atherosclerosis, and renal artery atherosclerotic stenosis. Panvascular venous lesions are related to the syndrome of ''deficiency and stasis'' in TCM, and the TCM treatment mainly invigorates Qi and promotes blood circulation, which can inhibit venous thrombosis, improve venous ulcers, and resist venous endothelial damage. Panvascular microcirculatory lesions are inseparable from the ''stagnation and stasis'' in TCM, and the treatment mainly promotes Qi and dredges collaterals, which has a good effect on coronary microvascular lesions, diabetic microvascular lesions, pulmonary microvascular lesions, and pancreatic microvascular lesions. Panvascular lymphatic lesions are related to the syndrome of ''water and stasis'' in TCM. The treatment method focuses on promoting blood circulation and water excretion, which can promote lymphangiogenesis and enhance lymphatic reflux. In addition, the combination of TCM and modern technology, especially the application of artificial intelligence, can improve the efficiency of early identification and personalized treatment, resulting in early screening and comprehensive management of panvascular diseases. Therefore, TCM will play a vital role in the prevention and treatment of panvascular diseases.
6.Analysis of goitrogenic effect of goitrogen in food
Haowen PAN ; Honglei XIE ; Xin HOU ; Meng ZHAO ; Wenjing CHE ; Jia LI ; Yue SU ; Lanchun LIU ; Zexu ZHANG ; Zongyu YUE ; Peng LIU
Chinese Journal of Endemiology 2024;43(1):77-81
Goiter is a kind of non-inflammatory and non-neoplastic hyperplasia and enlargement. Many studies have shown that substances such as thiocyanates and isothiocyanates can prevent the development of a variety of tumors. However, some studies have also found that such substances can lead to goiter. In this article, relevant information on common goitrogen in food are collected to explore their mechanism of action, laying a foundation for guiding residents to maintain a healthy and balanced diet.
7.Application of Insect Medicines in Treatment of Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction Based on Comorbidity Theory of "Blood-Vessel-Cardiac Collaterals"
Chenyang ZHU ; Jun HU ; Lanchun LIU ; Peirong QU ; Jie WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(1):176-185
Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) is one of the important causes of myocardial ischemia and non-obstructive coronary artery ischemic symptoms. However, effective diagnostic methods and targeted treatment strategies for CMD are currently lacking. According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the comorbidity theory of "blood-vessel-cardiac collaterals" plays a central role throughout the entire development process of CMD. It suggests that in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of CMD, the treatment of blood, vessels, and cardiac collaterals should not be neglected. In light of this, insect medicines, known for their efficacy in promoting blood circulation, resolving stasis, and alleviating spasms, hold promise as a potential treatment for CMD. However, there is currently no research or summary on the use of insect medicines for the treatment of CMD. Therefore, this article took the comorbidity theory of "blood-vessel-cardiac collaterals" as the starting point and divided the pathogenesis of CMD into five evolution stages: Beginning in the blood (changes in blood components and hemorheology), progressing in the vessels (atheromatous plaque formation and unstable plaques), occurring in the cardiac collaterals (microvascular endothelial damage and microvascular constriction and spasms), ending in the cardiac collaterals (microvascular remodeling), and resulting in energy metabolism disorders throughout the process, so as to explore the pathogenesis and evolution of CMD. In addition, based on the modern pharmacological research on insect medicines, this article discussed the clinical application of insect medicines in the treatment of CMD from four aspects: Promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis to relieve vessels' obstruction, relieving spasms to alleviate pain, combating poison with poison to disperse stagnation, and tonifying cardiac collaterals to nourish the heart, which aims to provide a theoretical basis for the use of TCM in treating CMD, broaden the scope of medication, and improve clinical efficacy.
8.The diagnostic value of artificial intelligence B-ultrasound image computer-aided diagnosis system in adult goiter
Zexu ZHANG ; Zongyu YUE ; Honglei XIE ; Yue SU ; Haowen PAN ; Jia LI ; Wenjing CHE ; Xin HOU ; Meng ZHAO ; Lanchun LIU ; Dandan LI ; Xian XU ; Weidong LI ; Fangang MENG ; Lijun FAN ; Lixiang LIU ; Ming LI ; Peng LIU
Chinese Journal of Endemiology 2024;43(11):922-927
Objective:To study the diagnostic value of artificial intelligence B-ultrasound image computer-aided diagnosis system (hereinafter referred to as intelligent ultrasound system) in adult goiter.Methods:In June 2022 and March 2023, two phases of thyroid disease survey were carried out in 4 cities in Anhui Province. One village was selected in each city, and 250 adults were selected as survey subjects in each village. Adult bilateral thyroid area was scanned by both intelligent ultrasound system and conventional ultrasound scanning equipment, and the effectiveness of intelligent ultrasound system in the diagnosis of goiter was analyzed based on the results of conventional ultrasound examination. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn, and Kappa test was used to analyze the consistency between intelligent ultrasound system and conventional ultrasound examination in the diagnosis of goiter. At the same time, Spearman correlation analysis and Bland-Altman method were used to evaluate the consistency of the two methods in measuring thyroid volume.Results:After screening and removing outliers and missing values, a total of 910 adults were included, including 253 males (27.80%) and 657 females (72.20%). The age was (45.92 ± 10.20) years old, ranging from 18 to 60 years old. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the intelligent ultrasound system for diagnosing adult goiter were 80.00%, 99.67%, and 99.56%, respectively. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.996, which was consistent with the results of conventional ultrasound examination for diagnosing goiter ( κ = 0.67, P < 0.001). After controlling for variables such as gender, thyroid function, and thyroid nodules, the intelligent ultrasound system showed good consistency with conventional ultrasound examination in the diagnosis of goiter in females, adults with thyroid dysfunction, and adults without thyroid nodules ( κ = 0.66, 0.80, 0.80, P < 0.001). The consistency in the diagnosis of goiter in adults with thyroid nodules was moderate ( κ = 0.56, P < 0.001). Spearman correlation analysis showed a highly positive correlation between the measurement results of adult thyroid volume by intelligent ultrasound system and conventional ultrasound examination ( r = 0.88, P < 0.001). The Bland-Altman method results showed that only 4.62% (42/910) of points in adults were outside the 95% consistency limit, indicating good consistency between intelligent ultrasound system and conventional ultrasound examination in measuring thyroid volume (< 5%). The proportion of points outside the 95% consistency limit in males, adults with thyroid dysfunction, and adults with thyroid nodules was 6.72% (17/253), 5.83% (12/206), and 6.45% (12/186), respectively. Conclusions:The intelligent ultrasound system has certain diagnostic value for adult goiter and has good consistency with conventional ultrasound examination for thyroid volume measurement. However, the accuracy of diagnosis for males and adults with thyroid nodules still needs to be improved.
9.Effects of Huoxue Bushen Anshen Prescription on Energy Metabolism of H9c2 Cardiomyocytes with Oxidative Stress Injury
Nuo CHENG ; Jie WANG ; Lanchun LIU ; Jiawen CHENG
Chinese Journal of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;31(9):94-101
Objective To observe the effects of Huoxue Bushen Anshen Prescription on energy metabolism of H9c2 cardiomyocytes with oxidative stress injury.Methods H9c2 cardiomyocytes oxidative stress model was established with H2O2 to simulate myocardial injury.CCK-8 method was used to select the best conditions for modeling and the appropriate concentration of drugs.Cells were divided into normal group,model group,trimetazidine hydrochloride group and Huoxue Bushen Anshen Prescription group.Na+-K+-ATPase activity,real-time ATP generation rate,mitochondrial pressure,gycolysis rate,and long-chain fatty acid oxidationl pressure on H9c2 cardiomyocytes after treatment were performed,and the changes in energy metabolism of cardiomyocytes were observed.Results Compared with the normal group,the Na+-K+-ATPase activity,glycolytic ATP production rate,mitochondrial ATP production rate,basal oxygen consumption,non mitochondrial oxygen consumption,ATP production capacity,cellular reserve respiratory capacity and maximum respiratory capacity of H9c2 cells in the model group decreased,the glycolytic rate slowed down,long chain fatty acid basal respiration,acute response and maximum respiratory value decreased(P<0.05,P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the H9c2 cells in Huoxue Bushen Anshen Prescription group showed an increase in Na+-K+-ATPase activity,an increase in glycolytic ATP production rate and mitochondrial ATP production rate,an increase in basal oxygen consumption,non mitochondrial oxygen consumption,ATP production capacity,cellular reserve respiratory capacity and maximum respiratory capacity,an increase in basal glycolysis rate,and an increase in long-chain fatty acid basal respiration,acute response and maximum respiratory value(P<0.05,P<0.01).Conclusion Huoxue Bushen Anshen Prescription can significantly improve the activity of Na+-K+-ATPase in cH9c2 ardiomyocytes with oxidative stress injury,increase the rate of ATP production,improve mitochondrial pressure,glycolysis rate and oxidation pressure of long chain fatty acids,and improve the energy metabolism of cardiomyocytes.
10.Study on the Mechanism of Huoxue Bushen Anshen Prescription in Improving Oxidative Damage of H9c2 Cells by Regulating AhR-JDP2-Nrf2 Axis
Nuo CHENG ; Jie WANG ; Jiawen CHENG ; Lanchun LIU
Chinese Journal of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;31(10):102-108
Objective To explore the mechanism of Huoxue Bushen Anshen Prescription in improving the oxidative damage of H9c2 cells based on AhR-JDP2-Nrf2 axis.Methods H9c2 cells were divided into normal group,model group,TCM group,trimetazidine group,empty plasmid group,overexpression group,TCM+overexpression group and trimetazidine+overexpression group.The oxidative stress model of H9c2 cells was induced with H2O2 to imitate myocardial injury,and the cells were transfected with JDP2 overexpressed gene,intervened with Huoxue Bushen Anshen Prescription and trimetazidine hydrochloride respectively.Apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry,the contents of MDA,SOD and NADPH in cell supernatant were detected by kits,the protein expression of AhR,JDP2,Nrf2 and HO-1 were detected by Western blot,the mRNA expression of AhR,JDP2,Nrf2 and HO-1 were detected by RT-qPCR.Results Compared with the normal group,the early apoptosis rate,late apoptosis rate and total apoptosis rate of H9c2 cells in the model group increased(P<0.01),the contents of MDA,SOD and NADPH in cell supernatant increased(P<0.05),the expression of AhR,JDP2,Nrf2,HO-1 protein and mRNA increased(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the early apoptosis rate,late apoptosis rate and total apoptosis rate of H9c2 cells in the TCM group and the trimetazidine group significantly decreased(P<0.01),the contents of MDA,SOD and NADPH decreased(P<0.05),the expression of AhR,JDP2,Nrf2 and HO-1 protein and mRNA decreased in the TCM group(P<0.05).Compared with the empty plasmid group,the overexpression group showed an increase in early apoptosis rate,late apoptosis rate and total apoptosis rate of H9c2 cells(P<0.01),an increase in MDA and NADPH content in cell supernatant(P<0.01),an decrease in SOD content(P<0.01),and an increase in the expressions of AhR,JDP2,Nrf2,HO-1 protein and mRNA in H9c2 cells(P<0.05).Compared with the overexpression group,the early apoptosis rate,late apoptosis rate and total apoptosis rate of H9c2 cells in the TCM+overexpression group and the trimetazidine+overexpression group were significantly decreased(P<0.05,P<0.01),the MDA and NADPH contents in cell supernatant were decreased(P<0.01),the SOD content increased(P<0.01),and the expressions of AhR,JDP2,Nrf2,HO-1 protein and mRNA in H9c2 cells decreased(P<0.05).Conclusion Huoxue Bushen Anshen Prescription can regulate the AhR-JDP2-Nrf2 axis by regulating the expression of JDP2,alleviate the oxidative damage of H9c2 cells,reduce the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes,and protect cardiomyocytes.

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