1.Herbal Textual Research on Inulae Flos in Famous Classical Formulas
Caixia LIU ; Yue HAN ; Yanzhu MA ; Lei GAO ; Sheng WANG ; Yan YANG ; Wenchuan LUO ; Ling JIN ; Jing SHAO ; Zhijia CUI ; Zhilai ZHAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(3):210-221
In this paper, by referring to ancient and modern literature, the textual research of Inulae Flos has been conducted to clarify the name, origin, production area, quality evaluation, harvesting, processing and others, so as to provide reference and basis for the development and utilization of famous classical formulas containing this herb. After textual research, it could be verified that the medicinal use of Inulae Flos was first recorded in Shennong Bencaojing of the Han dynasty. In successive dynasties, Xuanfuhua has been taken as the official name, and it also has other alternative names such as Jinfeicao, Daogeng and Jinqianhua. The period before the Song and Yuan dynasties, the main origin of Inulae Flos was the Asteraceae plant Inula japonica, and from the Ming and Qing dynasties to the present, I. japonica and I. britannica are the primary source. In addition to the dominant basal species, there are also regional species such as I. linariifolia, I. helianthus-aquatili, and I. hupehensis. The earliest recorded production areas in ancient times were Henan, Hubei and other places, and the literature records that it has been distributed throughout the country since modern times. The medicinal part is its flower, the harvesting and processing method recorded in the past dynasties is mainly harvested in the fifth and ninth lunar months, and dried in the sun, and the modern harvesting is mostly harvested in summer and autumn when the flowers bloom, in order to remove impurities, dry in the shade or dry in the sun. In addition, the roots, whole herbs and aerial parts are used as medicinal materials. In ancient times, there were no records about the quality of Inulae Flos, and in modern times, it is generally believed that the quality of complete flower structure, small receptacles, large blooms, yellow petals, long filaments, many fluffs, no fragments, and no branches is better. Ancient processing methods primarily involved cleaning, steaming, and sun-drying, supplemented by techniques such as boiling, roasting, burning, simmering, stir-frying, and honey-processing. Modern processing focuses mainly on cleaning the stems and leaves before use. Regarding the medicinal properties, ancient texts describe it as salty and sweet in taste, slightly warm in nature, and mildly toxic. Modern studies characterize it as bitter, pungent, and salty in taste, with a slightly warm nature. Its therapeutic effects remain consistent across eras, including descending Qi, resolving phlegm, promoting diuresis, and stopping vomiting. Based on the research results, it is recommended that when developing famous classical formulas containing Inulae Flos, either I. japonica or I. britannica should be used as the medicinal source. Processing methods should follow formula requirements, where no processing instructions are specified, the raw products may be used after cleaning.
2.Herbal Textual Research on Inulae Flos in Famous Classical Formulas
Caixia LIU ; Yue HAN ; Yanzhu MA ; Lei GAO ; Sheng WANG ; Yan YANG ; Wenchuan LUO ; Ling JIN ; Jing SHAO ; Zhijia CUI ; Zhilai ZHAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(3):210-221
In this paper, by referring to ancient and modern literature, the textual research of Inulae Flos has been conducted to clarify the name, origin, production area, quality evaluation, harvesting, processing and others, so as to provide reference and basis for the development and utilization of famous classical formulas containing this herb. After textual research, it could be verified that the medicinal use of Inulae Flos was first recorded in Shennong Bencaojing of the Han dynasty. In successive dynasties, Xuanfuhua has been taken as the official name, and it also has other alternative names such as Jinfeicao, Daogeng and Jinqianhua. The period before the Song and Yuan dynasties, the main origin of Inulae Flos was the Asteraceae plant Inula japonica, and from the Ming and Qing dynasties to the present, I. japonica and I. britannica are the primary source. In addition to the dominant basal species, there are also regional species such as I. linariifolia, I. helianthus-aquatili, and I. hupehensis. The earliest recorded production areas in ancient times were Henan, Hubei and other places, and the literature records that it has been distributed throughout the country since modern times. The medicinal part is its flower, the harvesting and processing method recorded in the past dynasties is mainly harvested in the fifth and ninth lunar months, and dried in the sun, and the modern harvesting is mostly harvested in summer and autumn when the flowers bloom, in order to remove impurities, dry in the shade or dry in the sun. In addition, the roots, whole herbs and aerial parts are used as medicinal materials. In ancient times, there were no records about the quality of Inulae Flos, and in modern times, it is generally believed that the quality of complete flower structure, small receptacles, large blooms, yellow petals, long filaments, many fluffs, no fragments, and no branches is better. Ancient processing methods primarily involved cleaning, steaming, and sun-drying, supplemented by techniques such as boiling, roasting, burning, simmering, stir-frying, and honey-processing. Modern processing focuses mainly on cleaning the stems and leaves before use. Regarding the medicinal properties, ancient texts describe it as salty and sweet in taste, slightly warm in nature, and mildly toxic. Modern studies characterize it as bitter, pungent, and salty in taste, with a slightly warm nature. Its therapeutic effects remain consistent across eras, including descending Qi, resolving phlegm, promoting diuresis, and stopping vomiting. Based on the research results, it is recommended that when developing famous classical formulas containing Inulae Flos, either I. japonica or I. britannica should be used as the medicinal source. Processing methods should follow formula requirements, where no processing instructions are specified, the raw products may be used after cleaning.
3.Association of sleep and circadian rhythm disruption with co-occurring depressive and anxiety symptoms among primary and secondary school students
YE Sheng, YANG Yue, LU Xuelei, JIN Heyue, LI Juntong, LIU Hui, LIU Li
Chinese Journal of School Health 2025;46(10):1478-1483
Objective:
To investigate the association of sleep and circadian rhythm disruption indicators (including chronotype, sleep duration, and social jetlag) with co-occurring depressive and anxiety symptoms among primary and secondary school students, so as to provide a reference for promoting their mental health.
Methods:
In October 2023, a total of 15 944 primary and secondary school students were recruited from Nanjing, using a stratified cluster random sampling method. The Morning and Evening Questionnaire-5, Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 were used for the survey. Chi-square test was employed for intergroup comparisons, and Logistic regression model was applied to analyze the independent and joint effects of sleep related factors on comorbid symptoms of depressive and anxiety among primary and middle school students.
Results:
The prevalence of co-occurring depressive and anxiety symptoms among primary and secondary school students in Nanjing was 16.9%. After adjusting for covariates, Logistic regression analysis revealed significant independent associations between evening chronotype ( OR=6.55, 95%CI =5.59-7.68), insufficient sleep duration ( OR=3.05, 95%CI =2.60-3.59), and social jetlag ≥2 h ( OR= 2.09 , 95%CI =1.85-2.37) with comorbid symptoms of depressive and anxiety among students (all P <0.05). Concurrent of evening chronotype and insufficient sleep ( OR=7.54, 95%CI =3.55-16.01), as well as evening chronotype and social jetlag ≥2 h ( OR=4.18, 95%CI =3.01-5.81), were associated with an increased risk of co-occurring depressive and anxiety symptoms (both P < 0.05 ). In the female and high school student subgroups, the combination of evening chronotype and insufficient sleep or social jetlag ≥2 h showed stronger joint effects on co-occurring depressive and anxiety symptoms [ OR (95% CI )=8.46(3.25-22.04) and 15.90(3.66-69.08); 7.87(4.90-12.65) and 4.85(3.10-7.59), respectively; all P <0.05].
Conclusions
Evening chronotype, insufficient sleep, and social jetlag≥2 h may serve as risk factors for comorbid symptoms of depressive and anxiety in school aged populations. Paying attention to the coexistence of multiple sleep related risk factors may help mitigate the occurrence of emotional disorders in this demographic.
4.Developing a polygenic risk score for pelvic organ prolapse: a combined risk assessment approach in Chinese women.
Xi CHENG ; Lei LI ; Xijuan LIN ; Na CHEN ; Xudong LIU ; Yaqian LI ; Zhaoai LI ; Jian GONG ; Qing LIU ; Yuling WANG ; Juntao WANG ; Zhijun XIA ; Yongxian LU ; Hangmei JIN ; Xiaowei ZHANG ; Luwen WANG ; Juan CHEN ; Guorong FAN ; Shan DENG ; Sen ZHAO ; Lan ZHU
Frontiers of Medicine 2025;19(4):665-674
Pelvic organ prolapse (POP), whose etiology is influenced by genetic and clinical risk factors, considerably impacts women's quality of life. However, the genetic underpinnings in non-European populations and comprehensive risk models integrating genetic and clinical factors remain underexplored. This study constructed the first polygenic risk score (PRS) for POP in the Chinese population by utilizing 20 disease-associated variants from the largest existing genome-wide association study. We analyzed a discovery cohort of 576 cases and 623 controls and a validation cohort of 264 cases and 200 controls. Results showed that the case group exhibited a significantly higher PRS than the control group. Moreover, the odds ratio of the top 10% risk group was 2.6 times higher than that of the bottom 10%. A high PRS was significantly correlated with POP occurrence in women older than 50 years old and in those with one or no childbirths. As far as we know, the integrated prediction model, which combined PRS and clinical risk factors, demonstrated better predictive accuracy than other existing PRS models. This combined risk assessment model serves as a robust tool for POP risk prediction and stratification, thereby offering insights into individualized preventive measures and treatment strategies in future clinical practice.
Humans
;
Female
;
Pelvic Organ Prolapse/epidemiology*
;
Middle Aged
;
Risk Assessment/methods*
;
China/epidemiology*
;
Multifactorial Inheritance
;
Aged
;
Risk Factors
;
Genome-Wide Association Study
;
Genetic Predisposition to Disease
;
Case-Control Studies
;
Adult
;
Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
;
Genetic Risk Score
;
East Asian People
5.Zebrafish as a vertebrate model for high-throughput drug toxicity screening: Mechanisms, novel techniques, and future perspectives.
Wenhao WANG ; Xuan GAO ; Lin LIU ; Sheng GUO ; Jin-Ao DUAN ; Ping XIAO
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2025;15(9):101195-101195
Drug toxicity is closely related to both clinical drug safety and new drug development. Therefore, it is vital to understand the mechanisms of drug toxicity fully and to use appropriate research models with advanced technologies. Zebrafish has become an important vertebrate animal model for high-throughput drug screening and toxicity assessment. At the same time, zebrafish has an intact biological complexity, reflecting the whole organism's toxicity, which gives it an advantage over other high-throughput models in toxicity studies. Despite the gradual increase in toxicity studies utilizing zebrafish, a comprehensive and systematic review of the underlying mechanisms and new techniques is still lacking. This review aims to analyze common toxicity mechanisms in zebrafish models, such as oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress, inflammation, and apoptosis, and macroscopic changes in biological processes like lipid metabolism disorders and neurotransmitter expression abnormalities. It also introduces new technologies applied in toxicity assessment, such as gene editing, novel fluorescence imaging technology, 3D imaging technology, and novel automated technology for high-throughput screening, such as fish capsules. In addition, it also summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of the model. By doing so, it will provide new suggestions for the development and improvement of the model, make it better serve the toxicity study of clinical drugs and provide a more comprehensive perspective for drug toxicity study, thus promoting the development of the field of drug toxicity study.
6.Cynanchum atratum Bunge and Cynanchum versicolor Bunge for Baiwei: An updated review of their botany, phytochemistry, traditional uses and pharmacological activities.
Wei XIE ; Xin-Yang LIU ; Xia LI ; Yong-Sheng JIN
Journal of Integrative Medicine 2025;23(3):230-255
Cynanchum atratum Bunge (C. atratum) and Cynanchum versicolor Bunge (C. versicolor) are two related species that have been used as "Baiwei" (Cynanchi Atrati Radix Et Rhizoma) in traditional medicine in China and other Asian countries for a long time. However, to date, no comprehensive review of C. atratum and C. versicolor has been published. This review provides a comprehensive summary on the botany, phytochemistry, traditional uses and pharmacology of Baiwei; The authors focus especially on the revision of errors in previous articles and reviews, updating information and providing a comparison of C. atratum and C. versicolor. Furthermore, current research reveals significant disparities in the chemical composition and pharmacological effects between C. atratum and C. versicolor. Up to November 2023, 178 compounds have been isolated from C. atratum and C. versicolor, including C21 steroids, acetophenones, alkaloids and volatile oils. These compounds and extracts have been proven to exhibit significant pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-virus, anti-fungal, memory-enhancing and anti-pyretic action, immune modulatory effects, reducing blood lipid, inhibition of melanin production, and anti-parasitic effects. Therefore, this review presents new insights into these two herbs used as "Baiwei" and further study is warranted to enhance their clinical application. Please cite this article as: Xie W, Liu XY, Li X, Jin YS. Cynanchum atratum Bunge and Cynanchum versicolor Bunge for Baiwei: An updated review of their botany, phytochemistry, traditional uses and pharmacological activities. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(3): 230-255.
Cynanchum/chemistry*
;
Humans
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry*
;
Phytochemicals/pharmacology*
;
Animals
;
Medicine, Chinese Traditional
;
Plant Extracts/chemistry*
7.International clinical practice guideline on the use of traditional Chinese medicine for functional dyspepsia (2025).
Sheng-Sheng ZHANG ; Lu-Qing ZHAO ; Xiao-Hua HOU ; Zhao-Xiang BIAN ; Jian-Hua ZHENG ; Hai-He TIAN ; Guan-Hu YANG ; Won-Sook HONG ; Yu-Ying HE ; Li LIU ; Hong SHEN ; Yan-Ping LI ; Sheng XIE ; Jin SHU ; Bin-Fang ZENG ; Jun-Xiang LI ; Zhen LIU ; Zheng-Hua XIAO ; Jing-Dong XIAO ; Pei-Yong ZHENG ; Shao-Gang HUANG ; Sheng-Liang CHEN ; Gui-Jun FEI
Journal of Integrative Medicine 2025;23(5):502-518
Functional dyspepsia (FD), characterized by persistent or recurrent dyspeptic symptoms without identifiable organic, systemic or metabolic causes, is an increasingly recognized global health issue. The objective of this guideline is to equip clinicians and nursing professionals with evidence-based strategies for the management and treatment of adult patients with FD using traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The Guideline Development Group consulted existing TCM consensus documents on FD and convened a panel of 35 clinicians to generate initial clinical queries. To address these queries, a systematic literature search was conducted across PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP Database, China Biology Medicine (SinoMed) Database, Wanfang Database, Traditional Medicine Research Data Expanded (TMRDE), and the Traditional Chinese Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System (TCMLARS). The evidence from the literature was critically appraised using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. The strength of the recommendations was ascertained through a consensus-building process involving TCM and allopathic medicine experts, methodologists, pharmacologists, nursing specialists, and health economists, leveraging their collective expertise and empirical knowledge. The guideline comprises a total of 43 evidence-informed recommendations that span a range of clinical aspects, including the pathogenesis according to TCM, diagnostic approaches, therapeutic interventions, efficacy assessments, and prognostic considerations. Please cite this article as: Zhang SS, Zhao LQ, Hou XH, Bian ZX, Zheng JH, Tian HH, Yang GH, Hong WS, He YY, Liu L, Shen H, Li YP, Xie S, Shu J, Zeng BF, Li JX, Liu Z, Xiao ZH, Xiao JD, Zheng PY, Huang SG, Chen SL, Fei GJ. International clinical practice guideline on the use of traditional Chinese medicine for functional dyspepsia (2025). J Integr Med. 2025; 23(5):502-518.
Dyspepsia/drug therapy*
;
Humans
;
Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods*
;
Practice Guidelines as Topic
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*
8.Electroacupuncture at ST36 improves gastrointestinal motility disorders by promoting enteric nervous system regeneration through GDNF/Ret signaling in diabetic mice.
Jin-Lu GUO ; Shi LIU ; Sheng-Jie DING ; Xin YANG ; Fan DU
Journal of Integrative Medicine 2025;23(5):548-559
OBJECTIVE:
Diabetes-induced gastrointestinal (GI) motility disorders are increasingly prevalent. Damage to the enteric nervous system (ENS), composed primarily of enteric neurons and glial cells, is an essential mechanism involved in these disorders. Although electroacupuncture (EA) has shown the potential to mitigate enteric neuronal loss, its mechanism is not fully understood. Additionally, the effects of EA on enteric glial cells have not been investigated. Enteric neural precursor cells (ENPCs) contribute to the structural and functional integrity of the ENS, yet whether EA enhances their differentiation into enteric neurons and glial cells remains unexplored. This study investigates whether EA promotes ENS repair through enhancing ENPC-derived neurogenesis and gliogenesis and elucidates the potential molecular mechanisms involved.
METHODS:
Transgenic mice were used to trace Nestin+/nerve growth factor receptor (Ngfr)+ ENPCs labeled with green fluorescent protein (GFP) in vivo. Mice were randomly divided into four groups: control, diabetes mellitus (DM), DM + sham EA, and DM + EA. The effects of EA on diabetic mice were evaluated by GI motility, ENS structure, and ENPC differentiation. Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF)/Ret signaling was detected to clarify the underlying molecular mechanisms.
RESULTS:
EA alleviated diabetes-induced GI motility disorders, as indicated by reduced whole gut transit time, shortened colonic bead expulsion time, and enhanced smooth muscle contractility. Furthermore, EA attenuated diabetes-induced losses of enteric neurons and glial cells, thereby restoring ENS integrity. Notably, EA reversed the diabetes-induced decrease in ENPCs and significantly increased the absolute number and the proportion of ENPC-derived enteric neurons. However, immunofluorescence analyses revealed no colocalization between EA-induced glial fibrillary acidic protein+ glial cells and GFP-labeled ENPCs. Mechanistically, GDNF/Ret signaling was elevated in intestinal tissues and upregulated in ENPCs in EA-treated diabetic mice.
CONCLUSION
EA facilitates ENS repair by promoting Nestin+/Ngfr+ ENPC differentiation into enteric neurons via upregulation of GDNF/Ret signaling, and driving enteric gliogenesis from non-Nestin+/Ngfr+ ENPCs. These findings highlight EA's role in ameliorating diabetes-induced GI dysmotility through ENPC-derived ENS restoration. Please cite this article as: Guo JL, Liu S, Ding SJ, Yang X, Du F. Electroacupuncture at ST36 improves gastrointestinal motility disorders by promoting enteric nervous system regeneration through GDNF/Ret signaling in diabetic mice. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(5):548-559.
Animals
;
Electroacupuncture
;
Enteric Nervous System/physiology*
;
Gastrointestinal Motility/physiology*
;
Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor/metabolism*
;
Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/therapy*
;
Signal Transduction
;
Mice
;
Gastrointestinal Diseases/physiopathology*
;
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret/metabolism*
;
Mice, Transgenic
;
Male
;
Nerve Regeneration
;
Neural Stem Cells
;
Mice, Inbred C57BL
;
Acupuncture Points
9.Formulation and Explanation of the Standards for Hospital Pharmacy Research
Yan LI ; Shiting LIU ; Yilei LI ; Wei ZHANG ; Weiyi FENG ; Yalin DONG ; Rongsheng ZHAO ; Wan-sheng CHEN ; Houwen LIN ; Jin LU ; Boxin ZHAO ; Xin HUANG ; Jiancun ZHEN
Herald of Medicine 2025;44(5):716-719
Hospital pharmacy research is significant in enhancing the level of rational drug use,improving the quality of pharmacy services,and promoting the improvement of drug treatment effects.To guarantee the standardization of hospital pharmacy research,the compilation team of"Hospital Pharmacy Research Standards"adheres to the principles of scientificity,universality,guidance,and operability,combs through the key management contents from three aspects,namely,relevant national policy docu-ments,relevant domestic and international standards and norms,and literature analysis,combines with the actual working condition of hospital pharmacy research,and formulates the standards after several rounds of opinion collection and expert argumentation.This paper analyzes the key contents of the standard,including basic requirements,research process management,and research re-sults management,to provide guidance and reference for hospital pharmacy researchers to understand the standard in-depth and further improve the standardization of hospital pharmacy research.
10.Establishment of a rapid fluorescence immunochromatographic assay for avian influenza virus subtype H5N6
Hui LI ; Li LIU ; Yi-sheng ZHOU ; Zhi-hong ZHANG ; Qian-qian SI ; Ru-xia WANG ; Zhi-qiang DENG ; Yi-bing FAN ; Liang JIN ; Jie SUN ; Chun-hua YANG
Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 2025;41(3):243-248,283
In view of the characteristics of H5N6 subtype avian influenza virus(AIV)that it has both high pathogenicity and the risk of cross-species transmission,posing a serious threat to the poultry farming industry and public health security,in order to effectively prevent and control the spread of H5N6 avian influenza,a rapid,sensitive and specific detection technolo-gy was established in this study.The specific monoclonal antibodies against the neuraminidase N6 protein of avian influenza A virus subtype H5N6 were obtained through hybridoma and monoclonal antibody technology.These antibodies were coupled and labeled with carboxyl-functionalized fluorescent quantum dots,along with previously prepared specific antibodies against the hemagglutinin H5 protein.A rapid fluorescence immunochromatographic detection method for the H5N6 subtype of avian influ-enza virus was established according to the principle of double-antibody sandwich immunochromatography.This method a-chieved a detection sensitivity of 1 ng/mL for recombinant hemagglutinin H5 subtype protein and 0.1 ng/mL for recombinant neuraminidase N6 subtype protein.Moreover,the method exhibited no cross-reactivity with other influenza subtypes or patho-gens,such as Newcastle disease(ND),infectious bronchitis(IB),and infectious laryngotracheitis(ILT),thus demonstrating good specificity.The method effectively identified the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5 subtype and directly distin-guished the H5N6 subtype with good accuracy.The fluorescent quantum dot immunochromatographic typing detection method established herein met the sensitivity,specificity,and accuracy requirements for H5N6 subtype detection,and can be further used for rapid detection of the H5 and H5N6 subtypes of avian influenza virus.


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