1.Exploration on the Connotation and Application of the Three Aspects of "Dietary Inquiry" for "Appetite" "Eating Capacity" "Food Preference"
Chengxiang WANG ; Chen YANG ; Xueping ZHANG ; Xinxin HU ; Wei WEI ; Xiaolan SU
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(9):1017-1022
"Dietary inquiry" is a core component of the diagnostic system in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which can be divided into three aspects including appetite, eating capacity, and food preference. Abnormalities in appetite are mainly attributed to dysfunction of the mind and impaired regulatory mechanisms. Clinical inquiry should focus on hunger sensation and the willingness to eat voluntarily. Treatment should aim to soothe the liver, regulate the spleen, nourish and calm the mind. Abnormalities in eating capacity are related to disorders of qi movement and structural dysfunction, for which inquiry should focus on whether food descends smoothly and on postprandial reactions, and the corresponding treatment is descending qi, relieving fullness, and promoting bowel movement and digestion. Abnormalities in food preference arise from damage caused by the five flavors and imbalance of visceral qi, for which inquiry should focus on dietary preferences and whether eating brings comfort. It is important to distinguish between "stomach preference" and "oral preference", and treatment should carefully differentiate flavor tendencies and correct imbalances through appropriate dietary flavors. By refining the content of dietary inquiry, this study explores how different dimensions of eating status reflect the holistic concept and syndrome differentiation-based treatment in TCM, providing a reference for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of spleen and stomach diseases and related disorders.
2.Exploration on the Connotation and Application of the Three Aspects of "Dietary Inquiry" for "Appetite" "Eating Capacity" "Food Preference"
Chengxiang WANG ; Chen YANG ; Xueping ZHANG ; Xinxin HU ; Wei WEI ; Xiaolan SU
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(9):1017-1022
"Dietary inquiry" is a core component of the diagnostic system in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which can be divided into three aspects including appetite, eating capacity, and food preference. Abnormalities in appetite are mainly attributed to dysfunction of the mind and impaired regulatory mechanisms. Clinical inquiry should focus on hunger sensation and the willingness to eat voluntarily. Treatment should aim to soothe the liver, regulate the spleen, nourish and calm the mind. Abnormalities in eating capacity are related to disorders of qi movement and structural dysfunction, for which inquiry should focus on whether food descends smoothly and on postprandial reactions, and the corresponding treatment is descending qi, relieving fullness, and promoting bowel movement and digestion. Abnormalities in food preference arise from damage caused by the five flavors and imbalance of visceral qi, for which inquiry should focus on dietary preferences and whether eating brings comfort. It is important to distinguish between "stomach preference" and "oral preference", and treatment should carefully differentiate flavor tendencies and correct imbalances through appropriate dietary flavors. By refining the content of dietary inquiry, this study explores how different dimensions of eating status reflect the holistic concept and syndrome differentiation-based treatment in TCM, providing a reference for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of spleen and stomach diseases and related disorders.
3.Analysis and prediction of incidence and mortality trends of colorectal cancer in Jinhua City from 2016 to 2027
ZHOU Fan ; WANG Xiaohon ; CHEN Mengqian ; ZHANG Xiaolan ; XU Zelin
Journal of Preventive Medicine 2026;38(1):26-30
Objective:
To analyze the trends in incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer in Jinhua City, Zhejiang Province from 2016 to 2024, and to predict the incidence and mortality from 2025 to 2027, so as to provide the evidence for improving regional colorectal cancer prevention and control strategies.
Methods:
Data on incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer in Jinhua City from 2016 to 2024 were collected through the Zhejiang Chronic Disease Surveillance Information Management System. The crude incidence and crude mortality were calculated, and standardized using the data from the Sixth National Population Census in 2010. Trends in incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer from 2016 to 2024 were analyzed using the average annual percent change (AAPC). A grey Markov model was constructed to predict the incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer from 2025 to 2027.
Results:
From 2016 to 2024, the crude incidence and standardized incidence of colorectal cancer in Jinhua City were 46.90/100 000 and 30.69/100 000, respectively, showing upward trends (AAPC=4.594% and 2.051%, both P<0.05). The crude mortality and standardized mortality were 17.47/100 000 and 10.36/100 000, respectively, and the trends were not statistically significant (both P>0.05). The standardized incidence and standardized mortality of colorectal cancer in males were higher than those in females (35.38/100 000 vs. 25.68/100 000, 11.96/100 000 vs. 8.57/100 000, both P<0.05). The crude incidence and crude mortality of colorectal cancer in the ≥80 years age group were the highest, at 220.04/100 000 and 186.86/100 000, respectively. From 2016 to 2024, the standardized incidence of colorectal cancer in males and females showed upward trends (AAPC=5.069% and 3.965%, both P<0.05), while the trends in standardized mortality were not statistically significant (all P>0.05). The crude incidence in the 70-<80 years age group showed an upward trend (AAPC=1.320%, P<0.05), and the crude mortality in the 40-<50 years age group showed a downward trend (AAPC=-3.756%, P<0.05). Trends in other age groups were not statistically significant (all P>0.05). The prediction results of the grey Markov model showed that the predicted values of crude incidence and crude mortality of colorectal cancer in the whole population would increase from 58.20/100 000 and 20.04/100 000 in 2025 to 61.70/100 000 and 21.26/100 000 in 2027.
Conclusions
From 2016 to 2024, the incidence of colorectal cancer in Jinhua City showed upward trends, while the mortality trend was stable. Males and the elderly aged ≥80 years are high-risk populations for colorectal cancer incidence and mortality. It is predicted that both crude incidence and crude mortality will increase from 2025 to 2027.
4.Jianpi Xiaoai Prescription Ameliorates Chemotherapy Resistance in Colon Cancer by Targeting FGF2 to Inhibit PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway
Xiaolan JIAN ; Kangwen NING ; Jiaxiang YANG ; Shenglan KOU ; Wanting KUANG ; Ziqi WANG ; Yuqin TAN ; Puhua ZENG ; Lingjuan TAN ; Wei PENG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(6):120-130
ObjectiveTo explore the effect and mechanism of Jianpi Xiaoai prescription (JPXA) in ameliorating the 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) resistance of colon cancer. MethodsA HCT116/5-FU resistant cell line was established. Different concentrations (10%, 15%, 20%) of JPXA-containing serum and drug-free serum were used for intervention, and 10% fetal bovine serum (10% FBS), fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) inhibitor (AZD4547), and recombinant fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) were set as the control groups. Sensitive HCT116 cells were used in the FGF2 group, while HCT116/5-FU cells were used in other groups. Drug resistance, the level of FGF2 in the cell culture medium, the mRNA level of FGF2 in cells, and the protein levels of FGF2/FGFR and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) were determined. The drug-resistant cells were transplanted into the axilla of nude mice to establish a tumor model. The modeled mice were allocated into model, JPXA (15 g·kg-1), 5-FU (0.02 g·kg-1), JPXA+5-FU (15 g·kg-1+0.02 g·kg-1), AZD4547 (0.012 5 g·kg-1), and AZD4547+5-FU (0.012 5 g·kg-1+0.02 g·kg-1) groups. The tumor growth and the protein levels of FGF/FGFR and PI3K/Akt in each group were observed. ResultsThe survival rate of HCT116/5-FU cells decreased in all the JPXA groups with different concentrations. The cell survival rate was decreased most obviously in the 20% JPXA group. The level of FGF2 in the cell culture medium and the mRNA level of FGF2 in cells of each JXPA group decreased, and the decrease was the most significant in the 20% group (P<0.01). HCT116/5-FU cells showed up-regulated protein levels of FGF2 and phosphorylated fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (p-FGFR1), but down-regulated protein level of FGFR1 (P<0.01). JPXA down-regulated the expression of FGF2 and p-FGFR1 and up-regulated the expression of FGFR1 (P<0.05). In addition, JPXA down-regulated the expression levels of phosphorylated protein kinase B (p-Akt) and phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR), while up-regulating the expression levels of Akt and Bcl-2-asociated death promoter (Bad) (P<0.05). Animal experiments showed that the JPXA combined with 5-FU significantly inhibited the growth of drug-resistant tumors, reduced the protein levels of FGF2, p-FGFR1, phosphorylated phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (p-PI3K), p-Akt, and p-mTOR, and increased the expression of Bad. It indicated that JPXA can inhibit the FGF2/FGFR1 signaling in colon cancer and regulate PI3K/Akt and downstream signaling pathways. ConclusionJPXA can ameliorate the chemotherapy resistance of colon cancer through down-regulating FGF2 expression and inhibiting the activation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.
5.Construction and application of a system for rational drug use for prescriptions from internet hospitals and external prescriptions and medical insurance fund control based on a pre-review prescription system
Yi GE ; Xiaolan WANG ; Junping HAN ; Bo LYU ; Yu GUAN ; Feng XU ; Aiming SHI
China Pharmacy 2026;37(5):584-588
OBJECTIVE To ensure the safety of patients’ drug use and control the risk of medical insurance expenditure by upgrading the pre-prescription review system to conduct pre-review on prescriptions from internet hospitals and external prescriptions, as well as to review the payment methods of drugs (including in-hospital and external drug dispensing). METHODS The data interfaces of prescriptions from internet hospitals and external prescriptions were integrated to achieve real-time rational drug use intervention. Additionally, an intelligent review project for payment method was added to precisely intervene in the medical insurance payment methods of drugs. The effect of the system upgrade was evaluated by comparing the qualification rates of prescriptions from internet hospitals and external prescriptions and the suspected amounts of drug violations from January to April 2025 (before the system upgrade) and May to August 2025 (after the system upgrade). RESULTS After the upgrade of the pre-prescription review system, the qualification rates of prescriptions from internet hospitals and external prescriptions increased by 3.5% [95% confidence interval (CI)=0.3%-6.7%, P =0.037 ] ; the suspected amounts of drug violations decreased to 52.9% of the pre-upgrade level (95%CI=31.6%-88.5%, P =0.026), and the average monthly sequential decrease was 29.5% (95%CI=12.2%-43.4%, P =0.012). Moreover, the addition of the intelligent review project for payment methods promoted the management of off-label drug use in our hospital. After the upgrade, a total of 79 filling valid applications for off-label drug use were received and archived. CONCLUSIONS The upgrade of the pre-prescription review system effectively improves the review qualification rates of prescriptions from internet hospitals and external prescriptions and the accuracy of medical insurance payment for drugs, and strengthens the supervision of off-label drug use, achieving dual guarantees of clinical rationality and medical insurance compliance.
6.Therapeutic Effect of Cranial Painkiller Pills' Extract Powder in Treatment of Trigeminal Neuralgia Induced by Injection of Talci Pulvis into Infraorbital Foramen of Model Rats Based on OTULIN-regulated Neuroinflammation
Shuran LI ; Xinwei WANG ; Jing SUN ; Dan XIE ; Ronghua ZHAO ; Lei BAO ; Zihan GENG ; Qiyue SUN ; Jingsheng ZHANG ; Yaxin WANG ; Xihe CUI ; Xinying LI ; Bing HAN ; Tianjiao LU ; Xiaolan CUI ; Liying LIU ; Shanshan GUO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(21):21-28
ObjectiveThis paper aims to verify the therapeutic effect of Cranial Painkiller pills' extract powder prepared by the new process on the rat's trigeminal neuralgia model caused by infraorbital injection of Talci Pulvis, evaluate its potential clinical application value, and compare the therapeutic effect with that of Cranial Painkiller granules, so as to provide data support for the application of the Cranial Painkiller pills' extract powder and precise treatment. MethodsThe rat's trigeminal neuralgia model was constructed by infraorbital injection of Talci Pulvis, and the rats were randomly divided into the normal group, model group, carbamazepine group (60 mg·kg-1), Cranial Painkiller granules group (2.70 g·kg-1), and low, medium, and high dosage groups of Cranial Painkiller pills' extract powder (1.35, 2.70, 5.40 g·kg-1) according to the basal mechanical pain thresholds, and there were 10 rats in each group. The drug was administered by gavage to each group 2 h after modeling, and distilled water was given by gavage to the normal and model groups under the same conditions once a day for 10 d. Von Frey brushes were used to measure mechanical pain thresholds in rats. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to detect pathological changes in the trigeminal ganglion, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the inflammatory factors interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels in rat serum, as well as neuropeptide substance P (SP) and β-endorphin (β-EP) levels in rat brain tissue. Western blot technique was used to detect the levels of NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1, and OTULIN proteins in rat brain tissue. ResultsCompared with the normal group, the pain threshold of rats in the model group showed a continuous significant decrease (P<0.01). The pathological damage of brain tissue was significant (P<0.01), and the inflammatory levels of IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α in serum were significantly elevated (P<0.01). The level of the SP in the brain tissue was significantly elevated (P<0.01), and the level of β-EP was significantly reduced (P<0.01), while the level of OTULIN was significantly reduced, and NLRP3, ASC, and Caspase-1 protein levels were significantly elevated (P<0.01). After administration of the drug, compared with the model group, the pain threshold of each dose group of the Cranial Painkiller pills' extract powder and the Cranial Painkiller granules group significantly increased (P<0.01). The inflammatory levels of IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α and SP levels significantly decreased (P<0.01), and the β-EP levels were significantly elevated (P<0.01), while the levels of OTULIN protein were significantly elevated (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the levels of NLRP3, ASC proteins were decreased (P<0.01)in high dose Cranial Painkiller pills' extract powder. Meanwhile, compared with those in the model group, the trigeminal ganglion lesions of rats in the Cranial Painkiller pills' extract powder and Cranial Painkiller granules groups showed different degrees of improvement (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionThe Cranial Painkiller pills' extract powder has significant therapeutic effects on the rat model of trigeminal neuralgia induced by infraorbital injection of Talci Pulvis, and its mechanism is related to the improvement of OTULIN-regulated neuroinflammation.
7.Therapeutic Effect of Jidesheng Sheyao Tablets on VZV-induced Skin Vesicles in Guinea Pigs and Postherpetic Neuralgia in Rats
Rui XIE ; Shanshan GUO ; Zihan GENG ; Lei BAO ; Ronghua ZHAO ; Shuran LI ; Qiyue SUN ; Xinwei WANG ; Jingsheng ZHANG ; Xihe CUI ; Xiaolan CUI ; Jing SUN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(21):38-47
ObjectiveThis paper aims to investigate the therapeutic effects of Jidesheng Sheyao tablets on varicella-zoster virus (VZV) and its associated postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) to provide experimental evidence for the clinical application and secondary development of Jidesheng Sheyao tablets. MethodsFifty-six guinea pigs were randomly divided into seven groups according to their body weight, namely the normal group, the model group, the positive control group, the high-dose group, medium-dose group, and low-dose group of Jidesheng Sheyao tablets (1.92, 0.96, 0.48 g·d-1), and the group treated with oral administration combined with topical application of Jidesheng Sheyao tablets (0.96 g·d-1 + 1.2 g·kg-1·d-1). The skin on the back of the guinea pigs in each group was depilated and then abraded with sandpaper. Except for the normal group, 200 μL of VZV solution was dropped on the damaged parts of the back of the guinea pigs in the other groups, and the infection lasted for 2 consecutive days. The drug administration started 2 hours after the infection on the first day and lasted for 7 days. The pathological changes of the back of the guinea pigs in each group were observed every day starting from the second day after the infection. On the 7th day, the guinea pigs were sacrificed by CO2 anesthesia. The locally infected skin was taken, and the viral DNA nucleic acid load was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR). The pathological histology examination was carried out after hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Seventy rats were randomly divided into seven groups according to their body weight, namely the normal group, the model group, the positive control group, the high-dose group, medium-dose group, and low-dose group of Jidesheng Sheyao tablets (1.08, 0.54, 0.27 g·d-1), and the group treated with oral administration combined with topical application of Jidesheng Sheyao tablets (0.54 g·d-1 + 1.2 g·kg-1·d-1). The rats in each group (except the normal group) were subcutaneously inoculated with 50 μL of VZV suspension between the web of the first and second fingers of the left forelimb. The skin on the back of the rats was depilated, and the drug administration started 2 hours after the infection and lasted for 10 days. The mechanical withdrawal threshold of the paws of the rats was detected by a Von Frey filament algometer before inoculation and on the 1st, 3rd, 6th, 8th, and 10th days after inoculation, and the thermal withdrawal reflex latency of the paws of the rats was detected by a hot and cold plate algometer. On the 10th day after the virus inoculation, the rats were anesthetized after the behavioral examination, and the dorsal root ganglia of the spinal cord and spinal cord segments were taken. The contents of substance P (SP), neurokinin (NK), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in the dorsal root ganglia of the spinal cord and spinal cord were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). ResultsCompared with those in the normal group, the guinea pigs in the model group had obvious skin herpes lesions (P<0.01). The viral nucleic acid load was high (P<0.01), and there were disorganized subcutaneous cellular structures and obvious infiltration of inflammatory cells and cell necrosis (P<0.01). The mechanical withdrawal threshold of the paws and the thermal withdrawal reflex latency of the paws of the rats were significantly decreased (P<0.05), and the contents of NK, SP, TNF-α, and IL-1β in the dorsal root ganglia of the spinal cord and spinal cord of the rats were significantly increased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the high-dose and medium-dose groups of topical administration of Jidesheng Sheyao tablets and the group of oral administration combined with topical application could significantly improve the lesions such as skin redness and herpes of the guinea pigs caused by VZV infection (P<0.01), reduce the VZV viral nucleic acid load in the skin tissues of the guinea pigs (P<0.01), alleviate the degree of inflammatory cell infiltration and skin cell necrosis in the skin tissue (P<0.05), significantly increase the mechanical withdrawal threshold of the paws and the thermal withdrawal reflex latency of the paws of the rats (P<0.05), and decrease the contents of NK, SP, TNF-α, and IL-1β in the dorsal root ganglia of the spinal cord and spinal cord of the rats (P<0.01). ConclusionJidesheng Sheyao tablets demonstrated significant therapeutic effects on VZV-induced skin infections and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), providing a promising candidate for the prevention and treatment of VZV infections.
8.Construction and Application of An Animal Model of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection Based on Humanized IGF1R Mice
Xiaowei YANG ; Dan XIE ; Shuran LI ; Lei BAO ; Zihan GENG ; Xian LIU ; Mengyao CUI ; Yaxin WANG ; Shan CAO ; Xiaolan CUI ; Jing SUN ; Shanshan GUO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(21):48-53
ObjectiveTo construct an animal model of respiratory syncytial virus(RSV)-infected pneumonia suitable for preclinical studies. MethodsThe virulence of RSV to the four cell lines was observed by cytopathic effect (CPE), and 50% tissue culture infective dose(TCID50) was calculated. Twenty BALB/c mice were randomly divided into a normal group and a model group. Six BALB/c-hIGF1R mice served as the humanized IGF1R model group. Except for the normal group, the other groups received intranasal RSV infection on days 1 and 3 to establish a viral pneumonia model. The efficacy of establishing an RSV-induced pneumonia animal model based on humanized insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) mice was evaluated by measuring organ indices, peripheral blood lymphocyte percentages, pulmonary pathology and imaging, and pulmonary viral load. Additionally, ten BALB/c mice served as normal group, and thirty-two BALB/c-hIGF1R mice were randomly assigned to humanized IGF1R model group, ribavirin group (82.5 mg·kg-¹·d-¹), and high and low dose groups of Lianhua Qingwen (3.3 mg·kg-¹·d-¹ , 1.65 mg·kg-¹·d-¹), with 8 mice per group. The viral load in lung tissue was measured after ribavirin and Lianhua Qingwen intervention, and the model was applied to the evaluation of anti-RSV drugs. ResultsIn the lungs of the humanized IGF1R model group, large solid and diffuse ground-glass shadows were seen, and the lung volume was significantly increased (P<0.01). The lung index was significantly increased (P<0.01), and both the spleen index and thymus index were significantly decreased (P<0.01). The percentages of CD3+ and CD4+T cells were significantly decreased (P<0.05), and there was a large amount of inflammation and stasis in the perivascular area of the lung tissue, which was predominantly characterized by lymphocytes. The endothelium of blood vessels was partially detached, with a small number of eosinophils. After infecting BALB/c-hIGF1R mice with RSV, the expression of viral nucleic acids in the lung tissue of the mice was significantly increased, with significant differences compared with the normal group (P<0.01). The expression of viral nucleic acids in the ribavirin group and the high and low dose groups of Lianhua Qingwen was significantly reduced, with significant differences compared with the normal group (P<0.01). ConclusionHumanized IGF1R mice are more susceptible to respiratory SVC, and the animal model of RSV-infected pneumonia based on humanized IGF1R mice was successfully constructed, which is suitable for the evaluation of anti-RSV drugs.
9.Therapeutic Effect of Cranial Painkiller Pills' Extract Powder in Treatment of Trigeminal Neuralgia Induced by Injection of Talci Pulvis into Infraorbital Foramen of Model Rats Based on OTULIN-regulated Neuroinflammation
Shuran LI ; Xinwei WANG ; Jing SUN ; Dan XIE ; Ronghua ZHAO ; Lei BAO ; Zihan GENG ; Qiyue SUN ; Jingsheng ZHANG ; Yaxin WANG ; Xihe CUI ; Xinying LI ; Bing HAN ; Tianjiao LU ; Xiaolan CUI ; Liying LIU ; Shanshan GUO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(21):21-28
ObjectiveThis paper aims to verify the therapeutic effect of Cranial Painkiller pills' extract powder prepared by the new process on the rat's trigeminal neuralgia model caused by infraorbital injection of Talci Pulvis, evaluate its potential clinical application value, and compare the therapeutic effect with that of Cranial Painkiller granules, so as to provide data support for the application of the Cranial Painkiller pills' extract powder and precise treatment. MethodsThe rat's trigeminal neuralgia model was constructed by infraorbital injection of Talci Pulvis, and the rats were randomly divided into the normal group, model group, carbamazepine group (60 mg·kg-1), Cranial Painkiller granules group (2.70 g·kg-1), and low, medium, and high dosage groups of Cranial Painkiller pills' extract powder (1.35, 2.70, 5.40 g·kg-1) according to the basal mechanical pain thresholds, and there were 10 rats in each group. The drug was administered by gavage to each group 2 h after modeling, and distilled water was given by gavage to the normal and model groups under the same conditions once a day for 10 d. Von Frey brushes were used to measure mechanical pain thresholds in rats. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to detect pathological changes in the trigeminal ganglion, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the inflammatory factors interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels in rat serum, as well as neuropeptide substance P (SP) and β-endorphin (β-EP) levels in rat brain tissue. Western blot technique was used to detect the levels of NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1, and OTULIN proteins in rat brain tissue. ResultsCompared with the normal group, the pain threshold of rats in the model group showed a continuous significant decrease (P<0.01). The pathological damage of brain tissue was significant (P<0.01), and the inflammatory levels of IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α in serum were significantly elevated (P<0.01). The level of the SP in the brain tissue was significantly elevated (P<0.01), and the level of β-EP was significantly reduced (P<0.01), while the level of OTULIN was significantly reduced, and NLRP3, ASC, and Caspase-1 protein levels were significantly elevated (P<0.01). After administration of the drug, compared with the model group, the pain threshold of each dose group of the Cranial Painkiller pills' extract powder and the Cranial Painkiller granules group significantly increased (P<0.01). The inflammatory levels of IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α and SP levels significantly decreased (P<0.01), and the β-EP levels were significantly elevated (P<0.01), while the levels of OTULIN protein were significantly elevated (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the levels of NLRP3, ASC proteins were decreased (P<0.01)in high dose Cranial Painkiller pills' extract powder. Meanwhile, compared with those in the model group, the trigeminal ganglion lesions of rats in the Cranial Painkiller pills' extract powder and Cranial Painkiller granules groups showed different degrees of improvement (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionThe Cranial Painkiller pills' extract powder has significant therapeutic effects on the rat model of trigeminal neuralgia induced by infraorbital injection of Talci Pulvis, and its mechanism is related to the improvement of OTULIN-regulated neuroinflammation.
10.Therapeutic Effect of Jidesheng Sheyao Tablets on VZV-induced Skin Vesicles in Guinea Pigs and Postherpetic Neuralgia in Rats
Rui XIE ; Shanshan GUO ; Zihan GENG ; Lei BAO ; Ronghua ZHAO ; Shuran LI ; Qiyue SUN ; Xinwei WANG ; Jingsheng ZHANG ; Xihe CUI ; Xiaolan CUI ; Jing SUN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(21):38-47
ObjectiveThis paper aims to investigate the therapeutic effects of Jidesheng Sheyao tablets on varicella-zoster virus (VZV) and its associated postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) to provide experimental evidence for the clinical application and secondary development of Jidesheng Sheyao tablets. MethodsFifty-six guinea pigs were randomly divided into seven groups according to their body weight, namely the normal group, the model group, the positive control group, the high-dose group, medium-dose group, and low-dose group of Jidesheng Sheyao tablets (1.92, 0.96, 0.48 g·d-1), and the group treated with oral administration combined with topical application of Jidesheng Sheyao tablets (0.96 g·d-1 + 1.2 g·kg-1·d-1). The skin on the back of the guinea pigs in each group was depilated and then abraded with sandpaper. Except for the normal group, 200 μL of VZV solution was dropped on the damaged parts of the back of the guinea pigs in the other groups, and the infection lasted for 2 consecutive days. The drug administration started 2 hours after the infection on the first day and lasted for 7 days. The pathological changes of the back of the guinea pigs in each group were observed every day starting from the second day after the infection. On the 7th day, the guinea pigs were sacrificed by CO2 anesthesia. The locally infected skin was taken, and the viral DNA nucleic acid load was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR). The pathological histology examination was carried out after hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Seventy rats were randomly divided into seven groups according to their body weight, namely the normal group, the model group, the positive control group, the high-dose group, medium-dose group, and low-dose group of Jidesheng Sheyao tablets (1.08, 0.54, 0.27 g·d-1), and the group treated with oral administration combined with topical application of Jidesheng Sheyao tablets (0.54 g·d-1 + 1.2 g·kg-1·d-1). The rats in each group (except the normal group) were subcutaneously inoculated with 50 μL of VZV suspension between the web of the first and second fingers of the left forelimb. The skin on the back of the rats was depilated, and the drug administration started 2 hours after the infection and lasted for 10 days. The mechanical withdrawal threshold of the paws of the rats was detected by a Von Frey filament algometer before inoculation and on the 1st, 3rd, 6th, 8th, and 10th days after inoculation, and the thermal withdrawal reflex latency of the paws of the rats was detected by a hot and cold plate algometer. On the 10th day after the virus inoculation, the rats were anesthetized after the behavioral examination, and the dorsal root ganglia of the spinal cord and spinal cord segments were taken. The contents of substance P (SP), neurokinin (NK), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in the dorsal root ganglia of the spinal cord and spinal cord were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). ResultsCompared with those in the normal group, the guinea pigs in the model group had obvious skin herpes lesions (P<0.01). The viral nucleic acid load was high (P<0.01), and there were disorganized subcutaneous cellular structures and obvious infiltration of inflammatory cells and cell necrosis (P<0.01). The mechanical withdrawal threshold of the paws and the thermal withdrawal reflex latency of the paws of the rats were significantly decreased (P<0.05), and the contents of NK, SP, TNF-α, and IL-1β in the dorsal root ganglia of the spinal cord and spinal cord of the rats were significantly increased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the high-dose and medium-dose groups of topical administration of Jidesheng Sheyao tablets and the group of oral administration combined with topical application could significantly improve the lesions such as skin redness and herpes of the guinea pigs caused by VZV infection (P<0.01), reduce the VZV viral nucleic acid load in the skin tissues of the guinea pigs (P<0.01), alleviate the degree of inflammatory cell infiltration and skin cell necrosis in the skin tissue (P<0.05), significantly increase the mechanical withdrawal threshold of the paws and the thermal withdrawal reflex latency of the paws of the rats (P<0.05), and decrease the contents of NK, SP, TNF-α, and IL-1β in the dorsal root ganglia of the spinal cord and spinal cord of the rats (P<0.01). ConclusionJidesheng Sheyao tablets demonstrated significant therapeutic effects on VZV-induced skin infections and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), providing a promising candidate for the prevention and treatment of VZV infections.


Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail