1.Current Status and Prospects of Research on Traditional Chinese Medicine Prevention and Treatment for Gastric Precancerous Lesions
Haiyan BAI ; Tai ZHANG ; Ping WANG ; Lin LIU ; Weichao XU ; Yaxin TIAN ; Lanshuo HU ; Qian YANG ; Xudong TANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(4):410-415
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), through its multi-target and systematic regulatory effects, has demonstrated unique advantages in the treatment of gastric precancerous lesions (GPL). At present, TCM theoretical research on GPL is mainly reflected in three aspects, the integration of macroscopic syndrome differentiation, the inflammation-carcinoma transformation mechanism, as well as the systematization and scientization of theoretical inheritance from famous TCM practitioners. High-quality evidence-based research findings serve as the foundation for clinical practice guidelines on GPL, and TCM has gained international academic recognition in the field of GPL prevention and treatment. Research on TCM mechanisms has yielded a series of important outcomes in the aspects of signaling pathways, gene expression regulation, cellular epigenetics, histone modification, and intestinal microecology. It is proposed that future research on GPL should focus on four key directions, establishing multi-omics data, exploring targeted intervention strategies on key regulatory nodes, advancing the standardization process of integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine prevention and treatment technologies, and constructing stratified screening and intervention platforms. The in-depth integration of TCM microcosmic mechanism of action with its macroscopic syndrome differentiation and treatment system, coupled with interdisciplinary research, will provide valuable references for the clinical treatment and scientific research of GPL.
2.Effects of Modified Gegen Qinlian Decoction (葛根芩连汤) on Intestinal Mucosal Barrier and Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition in Ulcerative Colitis Model Mice
Lihui FANG ; Jiaqi ZHANG ; Lanshuo HU ; Xintong WANG ; Shan LIU ; Yuedan WANG ; Jinke HUANG ; Xudong TANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;65(24):2580-2588
ObjectiveTo investigate the possible mechanism of modified Gegen Qinlian Decoction (葛根芩连汤) in treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) from the view of intestinal mucosal epithelial barrier damage and epithelial mesenchymal transition. MethodsSixty male C57BL/6J mice were divided into blank group, model group, western medicine control group, and low-, medium-, and high-dose modified Gegen Qinlian Decoction groups, with 10 mice in each group. Except for the blank group, 3% dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) was used to induce colitis model by free drinking for 7 days, and on the first day of modelling, 6, 12, and 24 g/(kg·d) of modified Gegen Qinlian Decoction were given to the low-, medium-, and high-dose groups respectively, 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) 100 mg/(kg·d) given by gavage to western medicine control group, and 10 ml/kg distilled water were given to blank and model group by gavage, once a day for 7 days. Body mass of mice was recorded and disease activity index (DAI) scores were performed daily. The mice were anesthetized after 24h of the last administration and the colon was taken to observe the length of colon, HE staining was applied to observe the damage of colonic mucosa and score pathological states, Masson staining to detect the deposition of colonic collagen fibers, immunofluorescence to observe the distribution of F-actin in colonic mucosal epithelium, and immunohistochemistry to detect the expression of tight junction protein ZO-1, Occludin, E-cadherin and Vimentin. ResultsCompared with the blank group at the same time, the percentage of body mass of mice in the model group on day 7 of modelling significantly reduced and the DAI score was significantly increased (P<0.01); compared with the model group at the same time, the body mass of mice in the western medicine control group and all of modified Gegen Qinlian Decoction groups decreased, and the DAI scores of mice in the western medicine control group and the high-dose modified Gegen Qinlian Decoction group decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01); compared with the same time of mice in the low-dos Gegen Qinlian Decoction group, the body mass of mice in the high-dose Gegen Qinlian Decoction group and the western medicine control group significantly elevated (P<0.05). Compared with the blank group, the length of the colon of mice in the model group was significantly shortened, the pathological score and the percentage of collagen area were significantly increased, the average fluorescence intensity of F-actin was reduced, the protein levels of ZO-1, Occludin and E-cadherin in the colon tissue decreased, and the protein level of Vimentin elevated (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the length of colon significantly increased, patholo-gical score, collagen area percentage decreased, ZO-1, Occludin, E-cadherin protein levels increased and Vimentin levels decreased in all medicated groups; the average fluorescence intensity of F-actin increased in the western medicine control group and the middle- and high-dose Gegen Qinlian Decoction groups (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared with the low-dose Gegen Qinlian Decoction group, the proportion of collagen fibre area in the middle-dose Gegen Qinlian Decoction group and the western medicine control group reduced; the mean fluorescence intensity of F-actin increased in the middle-dose Gegen Qinlian Decoction group; the protein levels of ZO-1 and E-cadherin increased in the western medicine control group, and the protein levels of ZO-1 increased in the high-dose Gegen Qinlian Decoction group (P<0.05). Compared with the medium-dose Gegen Qinlian Decoction group, the protein levels of ZO-1 elevated in the high-dose Gegen Qinlian Decoction group (P<0.05). Comapred with the high-dose Gegen Qinlian Decoction group, level of E-cadherin and Vimentin protein of the western medicine control group increased (P<0.05). ConclusionModified Gegen Qinlian Decoction was able to reduce colonic inflammation and mucosal barrier damage and inhibit the process of epithelial mesenchymal transition in mice models of ulcerative colitis, which may be one of its action mechanisms .

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