The interactions between microorganisms and medicinal plants are crucial to the quality improvement of medicinal plants. Medicinal plants attract microorganisms to colonize by secreting specific compounds and provide niche and nutrient support for these microorganisms, with a symbiotic network formed. These microorganisms grow in the rhizosphere, phyllosphere, and endophytic tissues of plants and significantly improve the growth performance and medicinal component accumulation of medicinal plants by promoting nutrient uptake, enhancing disease resistance, and regulating the synthesis of secondary metabolites. Microorganisms are also widely used in the ecological planting of medicinal plants, and the growth conditions of medicinal plants are optimized by simulating the microbial effects in the natural environment. The interactions between microorganisms and medicinal plants not only significantly improve the yield and quality of medicinal plants but also enhance their geoherbalism, which is in line with the concept of green agriculture and eco-friendly development. This study reviewed the research results on the interactions between medicinal plants and microorganisms in recent years and focused on the analysis of the great potential of microorganisms in optimizing the growth environment of medicinal plants, regulating the accumulation of secondary metabolites, inducing systemic resistance, and promoting the ecological planting of medicinal plants. It provides a scientific basis for the research on the interactions between medicinal plants and microorganisms, the research and development of microbial agents, and the application of microorganisms in the ecological planting of medicinal plants and is of great significance for the quality improvement of medicinal plants and the green and sustainable development of TCM resources.
Plants, Medicinal/metabolism* ; Bacteria/genetics* ; Symbiosis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the dynamic changes of glucocorticoid (GC) dose and the feasibility of GC discontinuation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients under the background of Chinese medicine (CM). METHODS: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included 1,196 RA patients enrolled in the China Rheumatoid Arthritis Registry of Patients with Chinese Medicine (CERTAIN) from September 1, 2019 to December 4, 2023, who initiated GC therapy. Participants were divided into the Western medicine (WM) and integrative medicine (IM, combination of CM and WM) groups based on medication regimen. Follow-up was performed at least every 3 months to assess dynamic changes in GC dose. Changes in GC dose were analyzed by generalized estimator equation, the probability of GC discontinuation was assessed using Kaplan-Meier curve, and predictors of GC discontinuation were analyzed by Cox regression. Patients with <12 months of follow-up were excluded for the sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: Among 1,196 patients (85.4% female; median age 56.4 years), 880 (73.6%) received IM. Over a median 12-month follow-up, 34.3% (410 cases) discontinued GC, with significantly higher rates in the IM group (40.8% vs. 16.1% in WM; P<0.05). GC dose declined progressively, with IM patients demonstrating faster reductions (median 3.75 mg vs. 5.00 mg in WM at 12 months; P<0.05). Multivariate Cox analysis identified age <60 years [P<0.001, hazard ratios (HR)=2.142, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.523-3.012], IM therapy (P=0.001, HR=2.175, 95% CI: 1.369-3.456), baseline GC dose ⩽7.5 mg (P=0.003, HR=1.637, 95% CI: 1.177-2.275), and absence of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs use (P=0.001, HR=2.546, 95% CI: 1.432-4.527) as significant predictors of GC discontinuation. Sensitivity analysis (545 cases) confirmed these findings. CONCLUSIONS RA patients receiving CM face difficulties in following guideline-recommended GC discontinuation protocols. IM can promote GC discontinuation and is a promising strategy to reduce GC dependency in RA management. (Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, No. NCT05219214).
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy* ; Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Retrospective Studies

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a highly prevalent chronic metabolic disease with an increasing incidence worldwide, that poses a significant risk to public health. In many current clinical practices for diabetes management, conventional Western treatments, including oral or injectable hypoglycemic agents, have serious side effects. Given that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is characterized by a multi-component, multi-target and multi-pathway approach, its combination with Western medicine could enhance efficacy and reduce adverse effects. Consequently, the use of TCM as a potential auxiliary or alternative treatment for the prevention and/or management of T2DM has emerged as a research hotspot. This article reviews existing reports on TCM in the treatment of T2DM and provides a detailed discussion of its applications. By integrating relevant clinical evidence, this review summarizes the clinical data on 23 TCM formulas and Chinese patent medicines, comprehensively describing their efficacy and potential pharmacological mechanisms in the treatment of T2DM. This includes an exploration of the impacts of TCM-based therapeutic interventions on T2DM-related microRNAs and their target genes. We hope this review not only offers new insights for future research directions but also enhances the understanding of the scientific value of TCM. Please cite this article as: Ni HX, Cao LH, Gong XX, Zang ZY, Chang H. Traditional Chinese medicine for treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus: Clinical evidence and pharmacological mechanisms. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(6):605-622.
Humans ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/drug therapy* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Hypoglycemic Agents/pharmacology*

objective:To investigate the factors influencing failure of preoperative optimisation with exclusive enteral nutrition(EEN)in patients with Crohn's disease(CD)and to construct a predictive model.Methods:Clinical data of 161 patients with Crohn's disease who underwent surgical treatment after preoperative EEN optimization at the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center of General Surgery of the Eastern Theater General Hospital from June 2021 to November 2023 were retrospectively analyzed.Patients were divided into two groups according to the preoperative EEN optimisation effect:optimisation success and optimisation failure.Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the factors influencing optimisation failure,and a column line graphical model was constructed using R4.4.0 software.Results:After at least 4 weeks of EEN treatment,a total of 44 patients(27.33%)failed preoperative optimization.Multifactorial analysis showed that FC>500 μg/g and use of corticosteroids were independent risk factors for failure of preoperative optimization,and an increase in prealbumin after 1 week of treatment was a protective factor for successful preoperative optimization.Based on the results of the multivariate analysis,a column graph was constructed,and the C-index was 0.873(95%CI=0.783～0.964).The calibration curve shows that the probability of failure predicted by the nomogram model prior to optimization is in good agreement with the actual probability.The clinical decision curve confirms that the risk threshold is between 0.03～0.96,and the nomogram model can be used to predict the failure of preoperative EEN optimization over other treatment options.Conclusion:FC>500μg/g and history of corticosteroid use were independent risk factors for failure of preoperative optimization,and an increase in prealbumin after 1 week of treatment was a protective factor for successful preoperative optimization.The nomogram constructed on the basis of these results has a good predictive value and is clinically applicable.

Objective To investigate the predictive value of neuregulin 4(Nrg4)combined withγ-aminobutyric acid(GABA)in cognitive dysfunction among patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome(OSAHS).Methods A total of 169 patients with severe OSAHS were se-lected as study subjects and divided into normal cognitive function group(n=89)and cognitive dys-function group(n=80)based on cognitive function assessment results.General information of the pa-tients was collected,and the levels of Nrg4 and GABA were detected by enzyme-linked immunosor-bent assay(ELISA).Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis was used to evaluate the predictive value of Nrg4 and GABA for cognitive dysfunction in OSAHS patients.Results The proportions of patients with a history of hypertension and diabetes,as well as the levels of diastolic blood pressure,total cholesterol(TC),triglyceride(TG),high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C),and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C)were significantly higher in the cognitive dysfunction group than those in the normal cognitive function group(P＜0.05).The levels of Nrg4 and GABA were significantly lower in the cognitive dysfunction group than in the normal cognitive function group(P＜0.05).The Montreal Cognitive Assessment(MoCA)score in the cognitive dys-function group was significantly lower than that in the normal cognitive function group[(12.36±2.35)versus(28.25±1.02),P＜0.05].Multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed that a history of hypertension and diabetes,diastolic blood pressure,TC,TG,HDL-C,and LDL-C were risk factors for cognitive dysfunction in patients with severe OSAHS(P＜0.05),while Nrg4,GABA,and MoCA scores were protective factors(P＜0.05).ROC curve analysis showed that combined de-tection of Nrg4 and GABA had a higher predictive value for cognitive dysfunction in patients with se-vere OSAHS compared with either marker alone(P＜0.05).Conclusion A history of hyperten-sion and diabetes,diastolic blood pressure,TC,TG,HDL-C,LDL-C,Nrg4,GABA,and MoCA scores are all factors influencing cognitive dysfunction in patients with severe OSAHS.Combined de-tection of Nrg4 and GABA can effectively predict cognitive dysfunction in these patients.

After entering the body from the drug delivery site, antitumor nanomedicines need to cross a series of physiopathological barriers to reach the target site of action to effectively exert antitumor therapeutic effects. The ligand modification strategy is a classic method to enhance the efficiency of nanomedicine delivery in vivo, but the contradiction between the single ligand modification strategy, which is characterized by unity and stage, and the in vivo delivery process, which is characterized by versatility and whole-process characteristics, determines that nanomedicines modified by a single ligand alone cannot satisfy the target efficacy requirements. Therefore, the use of multiligand combinatorial modification strategies by virtue of nanomedicine surface area advantages is key to advancing the next generation of smart nanomedicines. In this paper, on the basis of summarizing and classifying the commonly used functional ligands for in vivo delivery, the advantages and research progress of multiligand combination modification of antitumor nanomedicines are discussed with special focus, and the multiligand combination modification is classified as synergistic and complementary according to the combination of the ligands, which is of great significance to ensure that antitumor nanomedicines can overcome the multiple physiopathological barriers to achieve precise delivery.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of Chailian Lvping Granules(mainly composed of Bupleuri Radix,Coptidis Rhizoma,Paeoniae Radix Alba,Angelicae Sinensis Radix,Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma,Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus,and Ziziphi Spinosae Semen)in treating post-stroke anxiety and to observe their effect on serum neurotransmitters and oxidative stress.Methods A total of 104 patients with post-stroke anxiety of liver-qi stagnation and heart-fire exuberance type were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group,52 cases in each group.The control group was treated with conventional western medicine of Paroxetine,and the observation group was treated with Chailian Lvping Granules on the basis of treatment for the control group.The course of treatment lasted for eight weeks.The two groups were observed in the changes of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale(HADS)score,Hamilton Anxiety Scale(HAMA)score,serum neurotransmitter parameters of brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF),dopamine(DA),5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT)and norepinephrine(NE),and oxidative stress indicators of malondialdehyde(MDA),superoxide dismutase(SOD),and glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px)before and after treatment.Moreover,the clinical efficacy and total incidence of adverse reactions were compared between the two groups.Results(1)After eight weeks of treatment,the total effective rate of the observation group was 94.23％(49/52),and that of the control group was 76.92％(40/52).The intergroup comparison(tested by chi-square test)showed that the curative effect of the observation group was significantly superior to that of the control group(P＜0.05).(2)After treatment,the HADS score and HAMA score for the axienty degree in the two groups were decreased compared with those before treatment(P＜0.05),and the decrease of HADS score and HAMA score in the observation group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P＜0.01).(3)After treatment,the serum level of neurotransmitter BDNF in the two groups was increased while the serum levels of DA,5-HT and NE were decreased compared with those before treatment(P＜0.05).The increase of serum BDNF level and the decrease of serum DA,5-HT and NE levels in the observation group were significantly superior to those in the control group(P＜0.01).(4)After treatment,the serum level of oxidative stress indicator MDA in the two groups was decreased while the serum levels of SOD and GSH-Px were increased compared with those before treatment(P＜0.05).The decrease of serum MDA level and the increase of serum SOD and GSH-Px levels in the observation group were significantly superior to those in the control group(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).(5)The total incidence of adverse reactions in the observation group was 5.77％(3/52),and that in the control group was 9.62％(5/52).There was no significant difference between the two groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion On the basis of conventional western medicine treatment,Chailian Lvping Granules exert certain effect in the treatment of patients with post-stroke anxiety of liver-qi stagnation and heart-fire exuberance type.The combined therapy is effective and safe on alleviating the anxiety symptoms of patients,decreasing the degree of neurological impairment and stress response level,and has few adverse reactions.

Objective:To investigate the factors that influence the occurrence of complications following deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap breast reconstruction, and to determine whether these complications have an impact on the patient's quality of life.Methods:The clinical and follow up data from patients who underwent DIEP flap breast reconstruction at the Department of Breast, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University from Dec 2019 to Mar 2023 were retrospectively analyzed.Results:A total of 85 patients underwent DIEP flap breast reconstruction, including 71 stage Ⅰ reconstructions and 14 stage Ⅱ reconstructions. Postoperative complications occurred in 22 cases 25.9%, including flap complications in 11 cases (12.9%) and abdominal donor site complications in 11 cases (12.9%). Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that the overall incidence of complications was associated with high BMI and early surgery ( P<0.05). Flap complications were associated with high BMI, surgery performed at initial phase, and the use of internal mammary vascular branches as recipient vessels ( P<0.05). Abdominal complications were associated with previous abdominal surgery scars ( P<0.05). BREAST-Q scores showed no significant differences between the surgical complication group and the no complication group in terms of breast satisfaction, mental health, physical health-chest, physical health-abdomen, satisfaction with abdomen, sexual health, etc. ( P>0.05). Conclusions:DIEP flap breast reconstruction has a significant learning curve. The patient's own clinical characteristics (such as BMI and abdominal incision scars) and intraoperative choices (such as the selection of recipient vessels) may influence the occurrence of postoperative complications. However, the presence of postoperative complications does not appear to have an impact on patient-reported outcomes.