Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of six kinds of commonly used traditional Chi-nese medicine combined with mesalazine in the treatment of ulcerative colitis(UC)based on frequency statis-tical network meta-analysis.Methods Randomized controlled trials(RCT)of oral Chinese medicine for the treatment of UC were searched from the establishment of the database to June 2024 of PubMed,CNKI,Wan-fang,VIP,Sinomed and other databases.The quality of the included literatures was evaluated by Cochrane bias risk assessment tool,and the data were statistically analyzed by Stata MP17.0 software.Results A total of 24 RCTs involving 1 939 patients were included,involving 6 kinds of traditional Chinese medicine and Chinese pa-tent medicine,including 4 macro and micro outcome indicators.In terms of improving the total clinical effec-tive rate,Shaoyao decoction,Gancao Xiexin decoction,Huangqin decoction granule,Baitouweng decoction,Kangfuxin liquid,Shenlingbaizhu powder+mesalazine were all superior to using mesalazine alone,and Kang-fuxin liquid+mesalazine had the best effect(P<0.05).In terms of down-regulation of interleukin(IL)-6 expression in colonic mucosa,Shaoyao decoction,Gancao Xiexin Decoction,Huangqin Decoction granules,Pul-satilla decoction,Kangfuxin Liquid+mesalazine were better than using mesalazine alone,and Pulsatilla De-coction+mesalazine had the best effect on reducing IL-6(P<0.05).In terms of down-regulation of colonic mucosal tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α expression,Shaoyao decoction,Gancao Xiexin decoction,Huangqin decoction granule,Baitouweng decoction,Shenlingbaizhu decoction+mesalazine was better than using me-salazine alone,and Gancao Xiexin decoction+mesalazine had the best effect(P<0.05).In terms of down-regulation of IL-10 expression in colonic mucosa,Pulsatilla decoction+mesalazine was better than mesalazine alone(P<0.05).Conclusion Traditional Chinese medicine combined with mesalazine could alleviate the clin-ical symptoms of UC patients,improve inflammatory factor indicators,eliminate inflammation,and show a better treatment effect for UC than mesalazine used alone.

Objective To conduct an analysis on objective data of tongue manifestations and complexions among college students with yang deficiency constitution and balanced constitution,thus to explore the correlation between yang deficiency constitution and the objective data of tongue manifestations and complexions among college students.Methods From August 2023 to January 2024,data collection was carried out in 325 cases of yang deficiency constitution(yang deficiency group)and 175 cases of balanced constitution(balanced group)from college students of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine,Central South University,Hunan Normal University,Hunan University and Changsha University of Science and Technology in Hunan Province.YM-MA-Ⅰ digital detection system for tongue manifestations and complexions of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)was utilized for data collection and image analysis,and the differences in the Lab parameters of tongue color,tongue shape,tongue coating color,complexions,and lip color were compared between yang deficiency group and balanced group.Of the Lab parameters,letter"L"stands for luminance,which expresses the luminance from absolute black to absolute white,and takes the value of 0-100;letter"a"and letter"b"stand for two color channels,letter"a"represents the color from dark green to grey then to bright pink,and takes a value from-128 to 127,and letter"b"represents the color from bright blue to grey then to yellow,and also takes a value from-128 to 127.Results(1)The analysis of tongue manifestations showed that in comparison with the balanced group,enlarged tongue(72.62％),tooth-marked tongue(83.69％),and greasy coating(59.38％)were frequently seen in the yang deficiency group,and the differences were all statistically significant(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).(2)The analysis of complexions showed that in comparison with the balanced group,lusterless complexion(79.08％)and pale lip(42.15％)were frequently seen in the yang deficiency group,with statistically significant differences(P＜0.01).(3)The yang deficiency group had higher L value of tongue color,L value of tongue coating color,L value of complexions,and L and b values of lip color than the balanced group,and the differences were all statistically significant(P＜0.05),indicating that the tongue color,complexions,and lip color of the yang deficiency group were all pale.Conclusion The objective data and image analysis of tongue manifestations and complexions can accurately identify the population of yang deficiency constitution from college students,and the results will provide approaches and references for the identification of other TCM constitutions from the population.

AIM: To understand the publication status, research trends, and cutting-edge and hot topics in this field by conducting a bibliometrics analysis of relevant literatures on the pathogenesis of primary open angle glaucoma(POAG)in the past 30 a.METHODS:A total of 986 relevant literatures on the pathogenesis of POAG published on the core databases of China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI)and Web of Science(WOS)from 1 September 1993 to 1 September 2023 were retrieved. CiteSpace(6.2.R.4)and VOSviewer(1.6.18)software were used to conduct knowledge graph analysis on the retrieved literature, including publication volume, author, research institution, country/region, and keywords.RESULTS:The United States(243 articles)has the highest number of publications, followed by China(121 articles). The foreign institution with the highest number of publications is Harvard University(37 articles), while domestic institutions such as Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, ophthalmology department of Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, and Peking University First Hospital tied for the highest number of publications. Louis R. Pasquale(21 articles)is the most prolific English author. Wang Ningli is the most active Chinese researcher in this field. Keywords include trabecular meshwork, intraocular pressure, aqueous humor, glucocorticoid, hemorheology, etc.CONCLUSION: The research on the pathogenesis of POAG is in a period of vigorous development. The United States has the largest number of publications in this field, and Harvard University is a leading institution in this field. The research focus in the field of POAG has shifted from the structural aspect to the genetic level, and gene research and traditional Chinese medicine treatment have broad application prospects in this field.

Objective: The water-soluble extract of Ganoderma lucidum mycelia (WER) is prepared from a solid medium composed of bagasse and rice bran overgrown with Ganoderma lucidum mycelia. Recently, we reported that WER shows a blood glucose-lowering effect in maltose-loaded non-diabetic mice. Here, we investigated the efficacy of WER in type 2 diabetic state using KK-A^y mice. Moreover, the food-drug interactions of WER with α-glucosidase inhibitors, voglibose or acarbose were examined using both in vitro and in vivo experiments.
Methods: The glucose-lowering effects of oral administration in vivo of WER alone, or concomitant administration of WER with voglibose/acarbose on the elevation of blood glucose levels by sugar-tolerance tests were examined in KK-A^y mice. The inhibitory effects on α-glucosidase in vitro were also evaluated.
Results: Oral administration of WER (1 g/kg), which did not affect fasting blood glucose, significantly suppressed the hyperglycemia after loading of maltose (18% of decrease in AUC) compared to the water-administrated control mice. In vitro study showed that WER inhibited maltase in concentration-dependent manner. The inhibitory effects of lower concentrations of voglibose or acarbose on α-glucosidase activity were additively enhanced by the presence of WER, but those of higher concentrations were not affected. The glucose-lowering effect of voglibose (0.1 mg/kg) disappeared in maltose-loaded KK-A^y mice when the drug was concomitantly administrated with WER (1 g/kg), whereas acarbose (16 mg/kg) with WER showed no significant change in its effect.
Conclusion: These results demonstrated that WER shows the glucose-lowering effect in maltose-loaded KK-A^y, which may be based on inhibition of the α-glucosidase activity. The present study suggests that concomitant intake of WER with voglibose may override the therapeutic effect of voglibose on postprandial hyperglycemia by food-drug interaction in diabetic state.

Objective: Lentinus edodes (Shiitake) is a very popular mushroom in Asian cuisine. The water-soluble extract from culture medium of Lentinus edodes mycelia (LEM), which is commercially available as a nutritional supplement, is prepared by hot-water treatment from a solid medium composed of bagasse and defatted-rice bran overgrown for about 4 months with its mycelia. LEM was previously reported to have antioxidant activity and to suppress various oxidative damages. In this study, the neuroprotective effects of 2-week intake of LEM on cerebral ischemic damage induced by hypoxia/ischemia (H/I) followed by reoxygenation in mice were examined.
Method: Male C57BL/6J mice were divided into three groups, fed for two weeks with the control laboratory powder chow, 0.5% LEM-contained chow, or 1% LEM-contained chow, respectively. Cerebral ischemic damage was induced in the mice by H/I (i.e., unilateral ligation of the carotid artery and exposure of 8%O₂ for 30 min). Twenty-four hours after H/I, total plasma oxidative stress, neurological deficits, cerebral infarction volume were evaluated in each group. Furthermore, the number of apoptotic cells in ischemic penumbra, the hippocampal CA1 and CA2, and the somatosensory area of the cortex, were analyzed by TUNEL staining and cleaved caspase-3 immunostaining.
Results: The infarct area assessed 24-h after H/I was extended to the corpus striatum and cortex in the control mice. Treatment of LEM dose dependently improved plasma oxidative stress, neurological deficits, and cerebral infarction volume. Moreover, LEM decreased the levels of dihydroethidium activity as an index of super oxide production and the number of apoptotic cells in ischemic penumbra.
Conclusion: These results show that chronic intake of LEM relieves the hypoxia-induced cerebral ischemic injury, which may be attributed to the antioxidant effects of LEM.

Objective: The water-soluble extract of Ganoderma lucidum mycelia (WER) is prepared from a solid medium composed of bagasse and rice bran overgrown with Ganoderma lucidum mycelia. Recently, we have reported that WER had glucose-lowering effect in streptozotosin-induced diabetic mice, an animal model of type 1 diabetes. Here, we investigated whether long-term treatment with WER affects hyperglycemia and insulin resistance in KK-A^y mice, a type 2 diabetic animal model with obesity.
Methods: Female KK-A^y mice were given free access to water and high-fat food containing 0.5% WER for 8 weeks, with blood glucose and plasma insulin levels assessed every week. At the end of the experimental period, insulin tolerance test (ITT) was performed, and plasma levels of triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, AST, ALT and adiponectin were measured. Furthermore, expression of GLUT4 in skeletal muscle cell membrane and adipocytes was also determined by immunostaining and Western blot analysis.
Results: The mice with high-fat ingestion showed a gradual increase in levels of blood glucose and body weight. In the WER-treated mice, the blood glucose level was significantly suppressed after 2 weeks of treatment. WER also reduced plasma levels of ALT and insulin, but did not affect the other parameters. Additionally, ITT revealed that WER improved insulin sensitivity. Moreover, expression of GLUT4 in the plasma membrane of skeletal muscle cells and adipocytes of the WER-treated mice was increased.
Conclusion: These results indicate that WER has a glucose-lowering effect in type 2 diabetic mice. WER also improved hyperinsulinemia and insulin sensitivity, which may derive from enhancement of glucose uptake through GLUT4 of skeletal muscle cells and adipocytes.