1.Current Understanding of Retinitis Pigmentosa in Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine
Qing LI ; Ying DENG ; Li XIAO ; Jing LU ; Min AI ; Yasha ZHOU ; Yuhui QIN ; Qinghua PENG ; Yijing YANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(14):1567-1573
This paper has summarized current studies on retinitis pigmentosa (RP) from two perspectives, which were disease mechanism insights from western medicine, and etiology, pathogenesis and therapeutic principles in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). From the perspective of western medicine, the understanding of RP has evolved from an early single-factor explanation focusing on pathogenic gene mutations to a more comprehensive, multifactorial model involving genetic abnormalities, photoreceptor cell degeneration, retinal pigment epithelium dysfunction, oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, microenvironmental imbalance, and vascular insufficiency. In TCM, RP is considered to be a disorder manifested in the eyes but rooted in dysfunction of the zang-fu (脏腑) organs. Its pathogenesis is primarily associated with congenital insufficiency, liver-kidney depletion, impaired spleen function of transportation and transformation, and stasis obstructing the meridians. The core pathological mechanism can be summarized as "deficiency complicated by stasis", emphasizing holistic imbalance, dynamic disease progression, and syndrome differentiation and treatment. The differences and complementarities between the two medical systems in understanding disease progression are further discussed. RP is proposed to be more appropriately regarded as a complex disease characterized by long-term progression, stage-dependent evolution, and persistent decompensation. Western medicine contributes to elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying RP and provides the foundation for targeted therapeutic interventions, whereas TCM offers a holistic perspective for understanding disease evolution through the assessment of overall functional status, disease-stage stratification, and long-term syndrome-based regulation.
2.Current Understanding of Retinitis Pigmentosa in Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine
Qing LI ; Ying DENG ; Li XIAO ; Jing LU ; Min AI ; Yasha ZHOU ; Yuhui QIN ; Qinghua PENG ; Yijing YANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(14):1567-1573
This paper has summarized current studies on retinitis pigmentosa (RP) from two perspectives, which were disease mechanism insights from western medicine, and etiology, pathogenesis and therapeutic principles in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). From the perspective of western medicine, the understanding of RP has evolved from an early single-factor explanation focusing on pathogenic gene mutations to a more comprehensive, multifactorial model involving genetic abnormalities, photoreceptor cell degeneration, retinal pigment epithelium dysfunction, oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, microenvironmental imbalance, and vascular insufficiency. In TCM, RP is considered to be a disorder manifested in the eyes but rooted in dysfunction of the zang-fu (脏腑) organs. Its pathogenesis is primarily associated with congenital insufficiency, liver-kidney depletion, impaired spleen function of transportation and transformation, and stasis obstructing the meridians. The core pathological mechanism can be summarized as "deficiency complicated by stasis", emphasizing holistic imbalance, dynamic disease progression, and syndrome differentiation and treatment. The differences and complementarities between the two medical systems in understanding disease progression are further discussed. RP is proposed to be more appropriately regarded as a complex disease characterized by long-term progression, stage-dependent evolution, and persistent decompensation. Western medicine contributes to elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying RP and provides the foundation for targeted therapeutic interventions, whereas TCM offers a holistic perspective for understanding disease evolution through the assessment of overall functional status, disease-stage stratification, and long-term syndrome-based regulation.
3.Role of Adipose Tissue Macrophages and Adipokine in The Pathogenesis of Obesity-related Immune Diseases
Zi-Xuan JIA ; Qing-Lu WANG ; Pan-Pan DONG ; Xiao-Tong YUAN
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(10):2537-2557
Adipose tissue macrophages (ATMs) are crucial immunomodulatory factors in the adipose tissue (AT) microenvironment, playing an irreplaceable role in maintaining the balance of the local immune system and regulating metabolic homeostasis. Under obese conditions, the excessive accumulation of lipids leads to abnormal expansion of adipose tissue, which further disrupts the homeostasis of the local microenvironment, including the imbalance of inflammatory factors, the occurrence of oxidative stress, and the damage of microcirculation. As an essential immune cell population in adipose tissue, ATMs are deeply involved in the occurrence and progression of metabolic disorders and multiple obesity-related diseases, and their functional abnormalities are closely related to the initiation and development of adipose tissue inflammation and systemic metabolic disorders. The interaction between ATMs and adipokines, including adiponectin, leptin, resistin and retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4), acts as the core immunological and molecular mechanism linking adipose tissue inflammation to continuous disease deterioration, and this interaction is also a key research focus in the field of obesity-related diseases in recent years. This review discusses in detail the facilitating effect of the AT inflammatory microenvironment on the differentiation of peripheral monocytes into ATMs, elaborating on the specific molecular mechanisms by which various inflammatory mediators and abnormal metabolic products in the inflammatory microenvironment induce the differentiation of peripheral monocytes into functional ATMs. It also focuses on the regulatory mechanisms of chemokine-mediated ATM polarization and recruitment, including the specific roles of key chemokines like monocyte chemoattractant protein‑1 (MCP-1) and C‑X‑C motif chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL10) in mediating the recruitment of ATMs to adipose tissue, as well as the molecular pathways that regulate the switch between M1 pro-inflammatory phenotype and M2 anti-inflammatory phenotype of ATMs. In addition, this review explores the specific process by which ATMs trigger AT inflammation by secreting various pro-inflammatory factors such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-1β, which further amplify the local inflammatory response and disrupt the metabolic homeostasis of adipose tissue. Furthermore, it analyzes the specific binding patterns and molecular characteristics of adiponectin, leptin, resistin and RBP4 with ATM surface receptors, and clarifies how the activation of downstream immune signaling pathways, such as Janus kinase‑signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT), nuclear factor‑κB (NF‑κB), and phosphatidylinositol 3‑kinase‑protein kinase B (PI3K-AKT), triggered by these binding processes, induces the occurrence and development of various obesity-related diseases, including insulin resistance, cancer, metabolic-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and cardiovascular diseases. This paper highlights the unique and crucial role of the interaction between ATMs and adipokines in the occurrence and progression of obesity-related diseases, emphasizing that this interaction is a key link connecting local adipose tissue inflammation to systemic metabolic disorders. It further summarizes the potential therapeutic strategies targeting the ATM-adipokine axis, and comprehensively illustrates three major clinical application barriers, namely biological complexity, technical bottlenecks, and clinical translation obstacles, in the process of applying these therapeutic strategies. For each barrier, this review puts forward corresponding feasible solutions and clear research directions, which not only enrich the theoretical system of the ATM-adipokine axis in the field of obesity research, but also provide a solid theoretical basis and practical ideas for the clinical intervention, prevention and treatment of obesity and its related diseases.
4.Analysis of Hydrogen Injection-assisted Palladium-Modified Copper-Cobalt Bimetallic Hollow Fibers for Enhanced Electrocatalytic Ammonia Synthesis from Nitrate
Qing CHEN ; Le-Ting ZHANG ; Xiao-Long LIANG ; Ru-Peng LIU ; Wen-Hui HE ; Le-Hui LU
Chinese Journal of Analytical Chemistry 2025;53(10):1674-1683,中插5-中插36
The electrocatalytic nitrate reduction reaction(NO3RR)presents a sustainable pathway for large-scale ammonia production,yet it faces significant challenges due to proton supply limitations caused by the high energy barrier for water dissociation,which slows ammonia(NH3)generation.Herein,a palladium(Pd)-modified copper-cobalt(CuCo)hollow fiber penetration electrode that enabled H2 injection through its hollow structures,thereby enhancing proton availability for NO3RR was developed.The active Pd component efficiently dissociated H2,facilitating active hydrogen(*H)spillover and speeding up the cascade NO3RR process on Cu and Co sites.As a result,a half-cell energy efficiency of 39.53%and an NH3 Faradaic efficiency(FE)of 97.11%±1.17%at-0.1 V(vs RHE)were achieved,comparable to state-of-the-art systems.Importantly,the H2-assisted approach prevented the oxidation of active Cu and Co phases,demonstrating exceptional stability with less than 5.6%decay in current density(267 mA/cm2)and retention of NH3 FE at 94.8%after over 70 h of electrolysis.These findings offered valuable insights into proton supply pathways and design of NO3RR electrodes.
5.RICH1 regulates myocardial fibrosis through TGF-β/SMAD signaling pathway
Lu-xuan WAN ; Ying-qing HU ; Yuan-yuan LIU ; Yong-song TANG ; Jun-yi HUANG ; Zi-xuan ZHANG ; Xiao-xiao MAO ; Xin-wen NIE ; Zhan-hong REN
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(11):2089-2096
Aim To reveal the mechanism of CIP4 homologs protein 1(RICH1)are involved in the regu-lation of myocardial fibrosis.Methods Mouse cardiac fibroblasts(MCFs)cells were treated with transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β1)to induce the formation of a myocardial fibrosis cell model;the level of the target protein was detected by Western blotting;and the RICH1 gene was detected by transfection of the cells with plasmid.The RICH1 gene was overexpressed(RICH 1 OE)using plasmid transfection;the RICH1 gene was silenced using siRNA fragment(siRICH1);and the expression levels of myocardial fibrosis marker genes,such as Col1 a1,Col3 a1,and Acta2,were de-tected using RT-qPCR.Results RICH1 was signifi-cantly down-regulated in TGF-β1-treated MCFs;the expression levels of myocardial fibrosis marker genes,such as Col1 a1,Col3a1,and Acta2,were down-regu-lated in the RICH1 OE+TGF-β1 group;and in the siRICH1+TGF-β1 group,myocardial fibrosis marker genes,such as Col1 a1,Col3a1 and Acta2 were up-regulated at the expression level;phosphorylated SMAD2(p-SMAD2)and phosphorylated SMAD3(p-SMAD3)levels were down-regulated in the siRICH1 OE+TGF-β1 group.p-SMAD2 and P-SMAD3 levels were upregulated in the siRICH1+TGF-β1 group.Conclusion RICH1 inhibits TGF-β1-induced myo-cardial fibrosis;RICH1 inhibits TGF-β1-induced myo-cardial fibrosis by negatively regulating the SMAD2/3 signaling pathway.
6.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*
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Humans
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Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods*
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Practice Guidelines as Topic
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*
7.Associations between Red Cell Indices and Cerebral Blood Flow Velocity in High Altitude.
Hao Lun SUN ; Tai Ming ZHANG ; Dong Yu FAN ; Hao Xiang WANG ; Lu Ran XU ; Qing DU ; Jun LIANG ; Li ZHU ; Xu WANG ; Li LEI ; Xiao Shu LI ; Wang Sheng JIN
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(10):1314-1319
8.A Novel Scorpion Toxin LmKTx13 Inhibits the Voltage-gated Potassium Channel Kv1.3
Jia-Xin QIN ; Xiao-Qing LUO ; Min-Juan LU ; Jun-Xian JU ; Qing ZHOU ; Wen-Xing WANG ; Zhong-Hua LIU ; Min-Zhi CHEN ; Xi ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2025;41(10):1392-1401
Kv1.3,a voltage-gated potassium channel,is highly expressed in T lymphocytes,the nervous system,and vascular smooth muscle cells.It plays a critical role in membrane excitability and electrical signal transduction,serving as an important target for studying T-cell function and providing a promising direction for developing therapeutics against autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.Therefore,the de-velopment of specific inhibitors of Kv1.3 channel has emerged as a novel therapeutic strategy for these disorders.In this study,we isolated and purified a novel Kv1.3-inhibitory peptide toxin,LmKTx13,from the venom of the scorpion Lychas mucronatus using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chroma-tography(RP-HPLC).LmKTx13 consists of 38 amino acid residues,including six cysteines that form three disulfide bonds.Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings revealed that LmKTx13 potently inhibited Kv1.3 with an IC50 of 7.92±3.0 nmol/L.Selectivity analysis showed that 2 μmol/L LmKTx13 also in-hibited Kv1.2 and Kv1.7,but exhibited no significant effects on other potassium channel subtypes or voltage-gated sodium channels.Further investigation into the mechanism demonstrated that LmKTx13 acts as a pore-blocking inhibitor of Kv1.3.By analyzing the effects of LmKTx13 on Kv1.3 channel gating ki-netics and performing sequence alignment of the pore regions of Kv1.3 and Kv1.5,we constructed site-directed mutants and identified the pore region of Kv1.3 as the critical binding site for LmKTx13.Key residues involved in the interaction included T425,G427,and H451.In summary,we discovered a no-vel pore-blocking Kv1.3 inhibitor,LmKTx13,from L.mucronatus venom,which exhibits high affinity and selectivity for Kv1.3.These findings highlight its potential as a potential lead molecule for developing Kv1.3-targeted therapeutics.
9.RICH1 regulates myocardial fibrosis through TGF-β/SMAD signaling pathway
Lu-xuan WAN ; Ying-qing HU ; Yuan-yuan LIU ; Yong-song TANG ; Jun-yi HUANG ; Zi-xuan ZHANG ; Xiao-xiao MAO ; Xin-wen NIE ; Zhan-hong REN
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(11):2089-2096
Aim To reveal the mechanism of CIP4 homologs protein 1(RICH1)are involved in the regu-lation of myocardial fibrosis.Methods Mouse cardiac fibroblasts(MCFs)cells were treated with transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β1)to induce the formation of a myocardial fibrosis cell model;the level of the target protein was detected by Western blotting;and the RICH1 gene was detected by transfection of the cells with plasmid.The RICH1 gene was overexpressed(RICH 1 OE)using plasmid transfection;the RICH1 gene was silenced using siRNA fragment(siRICH1);and the expression levels of myocardial fibrosis marker genes,such as Col1 a1,Col3 a1,and Acta2,were de-tected using RT-qPCR.Results RICH1 was signifi-cantly down-regulated in TGF-β1-treated MCFs;the expression levels of myocardial fibrosis marker genes,such as Col1 a1,Col3a1,and Acta2,were down-regu-lated in the RICH1 OE+TGF-β1 group;and in the siRICH1+TGF-β1 group,myocardial fibrosis marker genes,such as Col1 a1,Col3a1 and Acta2 were up-regulated at the expression level;phosphorylated SMAD2(p-SMAD2)and phosphorylated SMAD3(p-SMAD3)levels were down-regulated in the siRICH1 OE+TGF-β1 group.p-SMAD2 and P-SMAD3 levels were upregulated in the siRICH1+TGF-β1 group.Conclusion RICH1 inhibits TGF-β1-induced myo-cardial fibrosis;RICH1 inhibits TGF-β1-induced myo-cardial fibrosis by negatively regulating the SMAD2/3 signaling pathway.
10.Establishment of quantitative models for effective components in Yishen Xiezhuo Mixture
Zi-fang FENG ; Min-min HU ; Xiao-wei CHEN ; Wen-ming ZHANG ; Li-hong GU ; Ping QIN ; Yi PENG ; Zhen-hua BIAN ; Qing-you YANG ; Tu-lin LU
Chinese Traditional Patent Medicine 2025;47(10):3177-3184
AIM To establish the quantitative models for gallic acid,mononucleoside,loganin,resveratrol,and rhein in Yishen Xiezhuo Mixture.METHODS HPLC was adopted in the content determination of various effective components,after which the near-infrared spectroscopy(NIRS)data were collected in 128 batches of samples and pretreatment was conducted,competitive adaptive reweighting sampling(CARS)algorithm was used for screening wavelength,partial least square method(PLS)regression analysis was performed.RESULTS There were no significant differences between the predicted values obtained by PLS models and measured values obtained by HPLC for various effective components(P>0.05).CONCLUSION The quantitative models established by NIRS combined with chemometrics display good predictive performance,which can be used for the rapid determination of effective components in Yishen Xiezhuo Mixture,and provide a reference for the rapid monitoring of other traditional Chinese medicine preparations in production processes.

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