1.From Cathartic Colon to Cathartic-dependent Constipation: Diagnostic-therapeutic Strategies from Integrative Medicine Perspective
Youcheng HE ; Fengru JIANG ; Yanru WANG ; Minghan HUANG ; Yue WU ; Chunyu ZHOU ; Lian MO ; Lifeng WEI ; Keyi PAN ; Shuyu CAI ; Jianye YUAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(11):162-172
Both cathartic colon (CC) and cathartic-dependent constipation (CDC) are caused by the abuse of stimulant laxatives, while their concepts are not completely the same.Starting from the disease name of CC, this article traced the origin and evolution of the concept of CC, summarizes and compared the similarities and differences between CC, CDC, and slow transit constipation (STC), and called for strict differentiation among the three.Furthermore, this article explored the specific contents of Western medicine clinical subtypes and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome differentiation of CDC and delved into the TCM pathogenesis of CDC according to both literature and clinical practice.The relationship between clinical subtypes and TCM syndromes was established, and the syndrome characteristics of CDC of different clinical subtypes and TCM syndromes were summarized.The recommended prescriptions for corresponding syndromes were listed.A systematic CDC diagnosis and treatment approach of "clinical subtypes-syndrome differentiation-syndrome characteristics-recommended prescriptions" was thus formed.Additionally, the paper provides an overview of current research on CDC in both Western medicine and TCM contexts, identifies future research directions, and suggests research pathways for refining and advancing CDC studies.
2.Clinical Efficacy of Yiqi Yangyin Huoxue Prescription in Treatment of Cathartic Colon and Analysis of Influencing Factors of Disease Severity
Youcheng HE ; Jingyi SHAN ; Fengru JIANG ; Yue WU ; Chunyu ZHOU ; Lu HANG ; Yan ZHOU ; Lian MO ; Shuyu CAI ; Keyi PAN ; Lifeng WEI ; Jianye YUAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(11):173-184
ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy of the Yiqi Yangyin Huoxue prescription (YYHP) in the treatment of cathartic colon (CC) and its effects on fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and to explore the correlations among CC severity indicators and between these indicators and patient history. MethodsAccording to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 98 patients meeting the diagnostic criteria of both traditional Chinese and Western medicine for CC with the syndrome of Qi-Yin deficiency complicated by blood stasis were randomly assigned to an observation group and a control group. The observation group received YYHP granules, while the control group received lactulose. Both medications were administered twice daily, one sachet each time, half an hour after breakfast and dinner, with a treatment course of 8 weeks. The primary constipation symptom score, Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life (PAC-QOL) score, and TCM syndrome score were assessed before and after treatment and at the 8th week after the end of treatment. The overall clinical effective rate, as well as the efficacy attenuation index and degree, were evaluated. Fecal SCFA levels were measured using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Spearman correlation analysis was performed to explore the correlations among CC severity indicators and between these indicators and patient history. ResultsThe overall clinical effective rate in the observation group (95.83%) was higher than that in the control group (78.72%) (P<0.05). After treatment, the total scores for primary constipation symptoms, PAC-QOL, and TCM syndromes decreased in both groups (P<0.05), with more significant reductions in the observation group (P<0.05). The severity of all primary constipation symptoms was alleviated in both groups (P<0.05). In terms of "excessive straining and difficult defecation", "anal heaviness, incomplete evacuation, and bloating sensation", "abdominal distension", and "defecation frequency", the observation group showed better efficacy than the control group (P<0.05). Scores of the four PAC-QOL dimensions and the scores and severity of primary and secondary TCM symptoms were reduced in both groups (P<0.05), with more significant reductions in the observation group (P<0.05). After treatment, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, and total SCFAs in the observation group increased significantly (P<0.05). The efficacy attenuation index and degree in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). No severe adverse reactions occurred in either group, and there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups. Positive correlations of varying degrees were observed among the total scores of primary constipation symptoms, PAC-QOL, and TCM syndromes, as well as between these scores and the history of stimulant laxative use, disease duration, and age. ConclusionYYHP can effectively alleviate the primary constipation symptoms in CC patients, improve quality of life, and ameliorate TCM syndromes, with good safety. It also has the advantage of a lower rebound degree after drug withdrawal, and its mechanism may be related to increasing fecal SCFA levels. Long-term abuse of stimulant laxatives may aggravate the severity of CC and prolong the disease course.
3.Analysis on the TCM Syndrome Characteristics of Aging in Female Insomnia Patients
Ke NIE ; Ying CHEN ; Juanjuan AI ; Weiwei ZHONG ; Deyu YANG ; Rujin ZHENG ; Xin SONG ; Wenzheng ZHANG ; Lifeng YUE
Chinese Journal of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;32(12):148-153
Objective To analyze the characteristics of TCM symptoms of aging in female insomnia patients;To provide syndrome differentiation evidence for clinical prevention and treatment of female aging.Methods A cross-sectional study method was used to include female insomnia patients who attended outpatient clinics at Dongzhimen Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine,Beijing Changping District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine,and the Third Affiliated Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine from August 2021 to July 2024.The patients'clinical information was collected,and frequency analysis,factor analysis,and clustering analysis of the relevant clinical information of the 107 female insomnia patients were conducted,which,together with the experts'opinions,resulted in characteristics of TCM syndrome elements and syndrome distribution of aging in female insomnia patients.Results Totally 20 core items were screened and 7 common factors were obtained from the factor analysis.There were 5 types of syndrome elements of disease location associated with aging symptoms in female patients with insomnia,including heart,liver,spleen,kidney and lung;and there were 7 types of syndrome elements of disease property,including qi deficiency,yin deficiency,qi stagnation,blood deficiency,heat,phlegm,and dampness.There were 4 types of syndromes were obtained from the systematic clustering,including heart-kidney disharmony syndrome,heart-liver stagnation syndrome,spleen deficiency and qi stagnation syndrome,lung-spleen qi deficiency syndrome.Conclusion By analyzing the TCM syndrome characteristics of aging symptoms in female patients with insomnia,four types of syndromes are obtained.The heart-kidney disharmony syndrome is the common syndrome.The internal relationship between insomnia and aging process in female patients with insomnia is revealed from the perspective of pathogenesis,which can provide a research basis for the clinical practice of TCM anti-aging guided by syndrome differentiation and treatment in the future.
4.Analysis on the TCM Syndrome Characteristics of Aging in Female Insomnia Patients
Ke NIE ; Ying CHEN ; Juanjuan AI ; Weiwei ZHONG ; Deyu YANG ; Rujin ZHENG ; Xin SONG ; Wenzheng ZHANG ; Lifeng YUE
Chinese Journal of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;32(12):148-153
Objective To analyze the characteristics of TCM symptoms of aging in female insomnia patients;To provide syndrome differentiation evidence for clinical prevention and treatment of female aging.Methods A cross-sectional study method was used to include female insomnia patients who attended outpatient clinics at Dongzhimen Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine,Beijing Changping District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine,and the Third Affiliated Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine from August 2021 to July 2024.The patients'clinical information was collected,and frequency analysis,factor analysis,and clustering analysis of the relevant clinical information of the 107 female insomnia patients were conducted,which,together with the experts'opinions,resulted in characteristics of TCM syndrome elements and syndrome distribution of aging in female insomnia patients.Results Totally 20 core items were screened and 7 common factors were obtained from the factor analysis.There were 5 types of syndrome elements of disease location associated with aging symptoms in female patients with insomnia,including heart,liver,spleen,kidney and lung;and there were 7 types of syndrome elements of disease property,including qi deficiency,yin deficiency,qi stagnation,blood deficiency,heat,phlegm,and dampness.There were 4 types of syndromes were obtained from the systematic clustering,including heart-kidney disharmony syndrome,heart-liver stagnation syndrome,spleen deficiency and qi stagnation syndrome,lung-spleen qi deficiency syndrome.Conclusion By analyzing the TCM syndrome characteristics of aging symptoms in female patients with insomnia,four types of syndromes are obtained.The heart-kidney disharmony syndrome is the common syndrome.The internal relationship between insomnia and aging process in female patients with insomnia is revealed from the perspective of pathogenesis,which can provide a research basis for the clinical practice of TCM anti-aging guided by syndrome differentiation and treatment in the future.
5.Analysis of detection of acute respiratory infection in children under 12 years old in Pudong New Area, Shanghai from 2019 to 2023
Yang YUAN ; Lu ZHANG ; Zhuyun LI ; Yue ZHANG ; Yujia HUO ; Jialiang CHEN ; Qing LIU ; Wenwei ZOU ; Bing ZHAO ; Lipeng HAO ; Lifeng PAN
Shanghai Journal of Preventive Medicine 2024;36(4):342-347
ObjectiveTo investigate the impact of acute respiratory infections in children under 12 years old in Pudong New Area, Shanghai from 2019 to 2023. MethodsAcute respiratory infection samples of children under 12 years old from three sentinel hospitals in Pudong New Area, Shanghai from 2019 to 2023 were collected, and 42 respiratory infection pathogens, including influenza virus, adenovirus, parainfluenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, human enterovirus/rhinovirus, human pulmonary virus, human bokavirus, coronavirus (229E, HKU1, NL63 and OC43), and novel coronavirus, were detected with microfluidic chips. The situation of acute respiratory infections among outpatient and inpatient children in this area was analyzed for the before the implementation of non pharmacological intervention measures (2019.12‒2020.1), during the period of non pharmacological intervention measures (2020.2‒2022.12), and after non pharmacological intervention measures (2023.1‒2023.6). ResultsFrom 2019 to 2023, a total of 1 770 samples were collected, and 445 pathogens were detected, with a detection rate of 25.14% (445/1 770). The main pathogens detected during the study period were influenza virus: 8.70% (154/1 770), respiratory syncytial virus: 4.41% (78/1 770), human enterovirus/rhinovirus: 2.66% (47/1 770), human adenovirus: 2.49% (44/1 770), and parainfluenza virus: 2.20% (39/1 770). Before the implementation of non pharmacological intervention measures, outpatients were primarily infected with influenza, parainfluenza virus, and respiratory syncytial virus, with detection rates of 8.09%, 4.49%, and 4.04%, respectively; inpatients were mainly infected with influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, and parainfluenza virus, with detection rates of 4.49%, 3.82%, and 3.15%, respectively. During the period of non pharmacological intervention measures, influenza, rhinovirus and respiratory syncytial virus were the main viruses detected in the samples of outpatient children, with detection rates of 4.04%, 3.60%, and 2.47%, respectively; inpatient samples mainly detected respiratory syncytial virus, rhinovirus, and influenza virus, with detection rates of 3.60%, 2.02%, and 1.80%, respectively. After non pharmacological intervention measures, influenza, rhinovirus and respiratory syncytial virus were the main pathogens detected in the outpatients, with detection rates of 9.89%, 2.92% and 2.02%, respectively; influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, and rhinovirus were the main pathogens detected in inpatient children, with detection rates of 6.29%, 1.57%, and 1.35%, respectively. ConclusionThe prevalence of pathogens related to acute respiratory infections in children is influenced by non pharmacological preventive measures.
6.Regulation of host immune function by gut microbiota-derived secondary bile acids
Lingling YUE ; Zihui WANG ; Xiaoqin LI ; Lifeng LI ; Wancun ZHANG ; Zhidan YU
Basic & Clinical Medicine 2024;44(6):887-891
Disturbances of gut microbiota may affect the balance of the host immune system.The metabolism of gut microbiota produces many bioactive molecules interacting with host,typically secondary bile acids(SBAs).SBAs are involved in regulating the energy metabolism and the expression of inflammatory response-related genes by bind-ing to membrane receptors and nuclear receptors,such as takeda G protein-coupled receptor(TGR5)and farnesol X receptor(FXR),which are essential for maintaining host immune homeostasis.
7. Effect of Xiaoyaosan on sexual behavior and inflammatory factors of rat with depression
Yueyun LIU ; Jingjing GAO ; Xin ZHAO ; Lifeng YUE ; Gang WANG ; Hairong YU ; Na WEI ; Xin MA ; Yuan LIANG
International Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2019;41(11):1208-1212
Objective:
To study the effects of
8.Changes of Notch Signaling Pathway in Hippocampus of Rats with Stagnation of Liver Qi and Spleen Deficiency Syndrome and Regulation of Xiaoyaosan
Yueyun LIU ; Xin ZHAO ; Man ZHANG ; Qiuying YAN ; Youming JIANG ; Lifeng YUE ; Jiaxu CHEN
World Science and Technology-Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2018;20(11):1989-1996
Objective: To observe the changes of Notch signaling pathway related molecule expression in hippocampus of rats with stagnation of liver qi and spleen deficiency syndrome and to explore the regulatory effect of Xiaoyaosan. Methods: Male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups: normal group, model group, model+xiayaosan group and model+fluoxetine group, each group had 12 rats. The stagnation of liver qi and spleen deficiency model was established by chronic immobilization stress for 21 days. Detection of Nissl bodies by Nissl staining, expression of NICD, Hes1, Hes5 and Jad1 were detected by Fluorescent quantitative PCR and Western-blot method. Results: Compared with the normal group, the number of Nissl bodies in the model group decreased significantly (P < 0.01), which showed that Xiaoyaosan and fluoxetine could reverse it (P < 0.01). The expression of Notch signaling pathway-related protein in model group was significantly lower than that in normal group (P < 0.01), which showed that Xiaoyaosan and fluoxetine could reverse the expression of NICD, Hes5 and Jag1 protein (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the normal group, the expression of each gene in the model group decreased (P < 0.01), which showed that Xiaoyaosan and fluoxetine could reverse the expression of NICD, Hes1 and Hes5 mRNA (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Conclusion: The hippocampal neurons of rats with stagnation of liver qi and spleen deficiency syndrome were damaged and the Nissl bodies were reduced, the expression of each protein and gene in Notch signaling pathway decreased. Xiaoyaosan may play a therapeutic role by regulating the expression level of hippocampal related molecules to protect neurons.
9.Assessing the quality of rodent laboratory animals in Beijing area by pathological diagnosis in October 2014
Chao LI ; Haodi DONG ; Linkai XU ; Chunyu WANG ; Zhiqi SONG ; Chunfa LIU ; Chaosi LI ; Ruichao YUE ; Guangyu CHENG ; Huajia ZHAO ; Deming ZAO ; Xiaomin YIN ; Xiangmei ZHOU ; Lifeng YANG
Chinese Journal of Comparative Medicine 2015;(5):67-70
Objective To assess the health status of rodent laboratory animals by pathological diagnosis, our lab has being take apart in investigating the quality of laboratory animals in Beijing area for years and offer some advices for standardized breeding to ensure accurate results of scientific research.This paper focuses on the analysis of laboratory rodent samples that collected in October 2014.Methods We collected the heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, large intestine and small intestine, and put these organs into 10%Calcium formaldehyde solution for fixation, and then prepared into two different sections for optical microscopy observation including all paraffin specimens stained with H&E and the frozen sections stained with Oil Red-O and PAS.Results The vast majority of laboratory rodents were up to standard, but there still a problem in individual units.The main problem is liver and lung disease.The rate of Hepatocyte swellingis 6%(mouse), 2.5% (rat), 8.2% (guinea pig), moreover part of them were lipidosis, according to Oil Red-O stain.the mainly problem of lung is congestion ,edema and Interstitial pneumonia ,the detectable rate of pulmonarydiseases is 15.5%(guinea pig).Conclusions The vast majority of laboratory rodents were pathologically diagnosed as healthy animals.The liver disease may be caused by improper feeding.And disease of lung may led by haze, unqualified bedding and low temperature.
10.Preliminary study on the identification methods for encephalomyocarditis virus
Jing XU ; Shuxiang LI ; Ye YUE ; Xinyi WANG ; Jing LIU ; Yuan LING ; Lifeng XU
Chinese Journal of Microbiology and Immunology 2013;(2):138-143
Objective To explore and develop methods for encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) identification.Methods According to the genetic sequence VR-129B of EMCV recorded in the GenBank,five gene fragments were selected to design primer sequence pairs.RNA was extracted to run RT-PCR,and then the products of amplification were identified by agarose gel electrophoresis.The results of DNA sequences were compared with the sequences in GenBank of the same EMCV strains.Antiserum was prepared based on the EMCV cultured in RK cells for establishing indirect immunofluorescence assay (IIFA) and neutralization test method,and verification for precision and specificity of the two methods were carried out after it.Antiserum that was prepared with GST-VP1 and GST-VP2 expressed in E.coli was reacted with the purified EMCV in Western blot test.Results By sequencing and comparing,the similarity of DNA fragments between the obtained and the GenBank recorded was reached 98% to 100%.The antiserum of No.20100901 batch that was chosen as the first antibody at a dilution of 1 ∶ 160 to develop IIFA brought about a better specificity.The neutralization titers of 20100901 batch antiserum was 1 ∶ 30 211 measured by fixing virus and diluting serum method,which showed good specificity and precision.The results of the Western blot test showed two clear bands above and under 33×103 respectively,which matched the theoretical value.Conclusion The RT-PCR,indirect immunofluorescence,neutralization test and Western blot method for EMCV strains identification were established initially.

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