1.Rotor syndrome in pregnancy: A case report
Lijie GAO ; Yanbo MO ; Xiaonan LIANG ; Xiaolan ZHANG
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2026;42(3):655-660
Rotor syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder of bilirubin metabolism, and it is difficult to diagnose and differentiate due to its extreme rarity and a lack of specific clinical manifestations. In recent years, the development of genetic testing technology has enabled the early diagnosis of atypical patients. Literature search shows that only 19 cases with detailed clinical and genetic data have been reported. This article reports a case of a pregnant woman with an increase in direct bilirubin during pregnancy who was diagnosed with Rotor syndrome based on a bi-allelic mutation in the SLCO1B1 and SLCO1B3 genes and delivered successfully at last, and a retrospective analysis was performed for related articles, in order to facilitate the early accurate diagnosis of patients with Rotor syndrome and guide medications from the perspective of genetic mechanisms.
2.Clinical features of ulcerative colitis in patients with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
Linru CHEN ; Chenyang LI ; Dong WANG ; Qian LIU ; Xiaonan LIANG ; Yue YAO ; Yuxin LUO ; Jia SONG ; Qian LI ; Xiaolan ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Internal Medicine 2025;64(8):753-758
Objective:To explore the relationship between intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) and ulcerative colitis (UC).Methods:From December 2023 to June 2024, 85 patients with UC from the Gastroenterology Department of the Luquan branch of the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University were enrolled. The lactulose hydrogen-methane breath test was performed to assess the prevalence of SIBO. Clinical data, including basic information, clinical manifestations, endoscopic manifestations, inflammatory indicators, current medication regimen, and past medical history, were collected. Furthermore, the body mass index (BMI), modified Mayo score, and patient-reported outcome (PRO2) score were calculated to evaluate disease activity in each patient. The Student′s t-test, Chi-square test, non-parametric test, and multiple logistic regression were used to analyze the data and explore the relationship between SIBO and UC. Results:The incidence of abdominal pain and bloating in patients who were SIBO positive with UC was higher than in those who were SIBO negative [abdominal pain: 50.0%(10/20) vs. 23.1%(15/65), χ2=5.34, P=0.021; abdominal distension: 40.0% (8/20) vs. 13.8% (9/65), χ2=5.01, P=0.025]; the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). Patients who were SIBO positive with UC were more likely to develop hypoproteinemia and anemia than those who were SIBO negative [hypoproteinemia: 50.0% (10/20) vs. 15.4% (10/65), χ2=8.35, P=0.004; anemia: 35.0% (7/20) vs. 9.2% (6/65), χ2=5.98, P=0.014]; the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). In the intestinal methanogen overgrowth (IMO) positive group, the number of patients with UC with 1-2 stool times/day was higher, and the distribution of stool times between the IMO positive and IMO negative groups was significantly different ( χ2=6.45, P=0.040). Furthermore, combined hypoproteinemia and anemia were risk factors for SIBO in patients with UC (hypoproteinemia OR=4.331, 95% CI 1.117-16.799, P=0.034; anemia OR=5.515, 95% CI 1.231-24.700, P=0.026). Conclusions:We observed a clinical overlap between SIBO and UC. SIBO could be targeted to optimize the treatment of patients with UC in the future.
3.Exploration of Heat Clearing Herbs with Anti-inflammatory and Anti-tumor Effects Based on the Traditional Chinese Medicine Pathogenic Factors of Pancreatitis-induced Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
Yana BAO ; Xiaonan ZHANG ; Xi GUAN ; Liang ZHAO ; Yuying CUI ; Yu WU ; Dong SHANG ; Hong XIANG
World Science and Technology-Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;27(1):161-167
Background When discussing the new concept of"pancreas spleen integration"in the early stage,we proposed that dampness heat stagnation in the spleen and deficiency due to stagnation are the traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)pathogenesis elements of pancreatitis-induced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma,among which dampness heat is the soil of pancreatitis deteriorates into pancreatic cancer.Objective Based on the TCM pathogenesis elements of pancreatitis to cancer with"damp heat"as the main factor,data mining technology was used to analyze the properties,channel conversion and active ingredients of heat-clearing Chinese medicines with anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor effects,and to summarize the drug characteristics of these Chinese medicines.To prospectively predict the use of drugs in the transformation process of pancreatitis to pancreatic cancer.Methods Taking Traditional Chinese Medicine(10th Edition of China Traditional Chinese Medicine Press)as the drug data source,66 heat-clearing herbs were searched in the literature database of CNKI and PubMed of inflammation * TCM or(inflammation+tumor)* TCM.The active ingredients were analyzed in the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform(TCMSP).Results Among the 66 heat-clearing drugs(excluding adjunct drugs),58 herbs had anti-inflammatory effects,53 herbs had anti-tumor effects,and 48 herbs had both anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor effects.The three groups of drugs were mainly bitter,sweet and pungent in five flavors,and were mainly liver,stomach,lung,heart and large intestine in meridian affinity.Five flavors and meridian affinity were highly similar.In the TCMSP,the"five principles of drug class"were used to screen the active ingredients of anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor drugs.A total of 1041 active ingredient data were screened,and 798 active ingredient data were screened after duplicate items were deleted.Top three active ingredients were Luteolin,Kaempferol and Acacetin.Conclusion Based on the analysis of five flavors,meridian affinity and active ingredients of heat-clearing medicine,this study found that the anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor effects of these Chinese herbs are highly overlapping,it has important guiding significance for the drug research and clinical prescription of pancreatitis-induced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
4.Exploration of Heat Clearing Herbs with Anti-inflammatory and Anti-tumor Effects Based on the Traditional Chinese Medicine Pathogenic Factors of Pancreatitis-induced Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
Yana BAO ; Xiaonan ZHANG ; Xi GUAN ; Liang ZHAO ; Yuying CUI ; Yu WU ; Dong SHANG ; Hong XIANG
World Science and Technology-Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;27(1):161-167
Background When discussing the new concept of"pancreas spleen integration"in the early stage,we proposed that dampness heat stagnation in the spleen and deficiency due to stagnation are the traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)pathogenesis elements of pancreatitis-induced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma,among which dampness heat is the soil of pancreatitis deteriorates into pancreatic cancer.Objective Based on the TCM pathogenesis elements of pancreatitis to cancer with"damp heat"as the main factor,data mining technology was used to analyze the properties,channel conversion and active ingredients of heat-clearing Chinese medicines with anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor effects,and to summarize the drug characteristics of these Chinese medicines.To prospectively predict the use of drugs in the transformation process of pancreatitis to pancreatic cancer.Methods Taking Traditional Chinese Medicine(10th Edition of China Traditional Chinese Medicine Press)as the drug data source,66 heat-clearing herbs were searched in the literature database of CNKI and PubMed of inflammation * TCM or(inflammation+tumor)* TCM.The active ingredients were analyzed in the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform(TCMSP).Results Among the 66 heat-clearing drugs(excluding adjunct drugs),58 herbs had anti-inflammatory effects,53 herbs had anti-tumor effects,and 48 herbs had both anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor effects.The three groups of drugs were mainly bitter,sweet and pungent in five flavors,and were mainly liver,stomach,lung,heart and large intestine in meridian affinity.Five flavors and meridian affinity were highly similar.In the TCMSP,the"five principles of drug class"were used to screen the active ingredients of anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor drugs.A total of 1041 active ingredient data were screened,and 798 active ingredient data were screened after duplicate items were deleted.Top three active ingredients were Luteolin,Kaempferol and Acacetin.Conclusion Based on the analysis of five flavors,meridian affinity and active ingredients of heat-clearing medicine,this study found that the anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor effects of these Chinese herbs are highly overlapping,it has important guiding significance for the drug research and clinical prescription of pancreatitis-induced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
5.Clinical features of ulcerative colitis in patients with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
Linru CHEN ; Chenyang LI ; Dong WANG ; Qian LIU ; Xiaonan LIANG ; Yue YAO ; Yuxin LUO ; Jia SONG ; Qian LI ; Xiaolan ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Internal Medicine 2025;64(8):753-758
Objective:To explore the relationship between intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) and ulcerative colitis (UC).Methods:From December 2023 to June 2024, 85 patients with UC from the Gastroenterology Department of the Luquan branch of the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University were enrolled. The lactulose hydrogen-methane breath test was performed to assess the prevalence of SIBO. Clinical data, including basic information, clinical manifestations, endoscopic manifestations, inflammatory indicators, current medication regimen, and past medical history, were collected. Furthermore, the body mass index (BMI), modified Mayo score, and patient-reported outcome (PRO2) score were calculated to evaluate disease activity in each patient. The Student′s t-test, Chi-square test, non-parametric test, and multiple logistic regression were used to analyze the data and explore the relationship between SIBO and UC. Results:The incidence of abdominal pain and bloating in patients who were SIBO positive with UC was higher than in those who were SIBO negative [abdominal pain: 50.0%(10/20) vs. 23.1%(15/65), χ2=5.34, P=0.021; abdominal distension: 40.0% (8/20) vs. 13.8% (9/65), χ2=5.01, P=0.025]; the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). Patients who were SIBO positive with UC were more likely to develop hypoproteinemia and anemia than those who were SIBO negative [hypoproteinemia: 50.0% (10/20) vs. 15.4% (10/65), χ2=8.35, P=0.004; anemia: 35.0% (7/20) vs. 9.2% (6/65), χ2=5.98, P=0.014]; the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). In the intestinal methanogen overgrowth (IMO) positive group, the number of patients with UC with 1-2 stool times/day was higher, and the distribution of stool times between the IMO positive and IMO negative groups was significantly different ( χ2=6.45, P=0.040). Furthermore, combined hypoproteinemia and anemia were risk factors for SIBO in patients with UC (hypoproteinemia OR=4.331, 95% CI 1.117-16.799, P=0.034; anemia OR=5.515, 95% CI 1.231-24.700, P=0.026). Conclusions:We observed a clinical overlap between SIBO and UC. SIBO could be targeted to optimize the treatment of patients with UC in the future.
6.Targets and validation of Salvia miltiorrhiza in myopia through network pharmacology
Xiaonan LU ; Jie LI ; Guangqi AN ; Zhenhui LIU ; Chunyu LIANG ; Shuzhen DAI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Ophthalmology 2024;42(4):322-328
Objective:To explore and validate the targets of Salvia miltiorrhiza in myopia using network pharmacology and molecular docking technology. Methods:The TCMSP database was used to extract the targets of Salvia miltiorrhiza.GeneCards, DisGeNET, Malacard and OMIM databases were used to extract the myopia-related targets.The target intersection was taken, and the intersecting targets were selected to extract the corresponding active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and construct the pharmacological regulatory network of TCM using Cytoscape.The protein interaction network map for the key target genes was constructed using the String database, and the relevant proteins were selected to download the three-dimensional structures of the active ingredients from the PubChem database, and molecular docking was performed using AutoDockvina software.Twelve 3-week-old guinea pigs were induced with lens-induced myopia (LIM) in the right eye and randomly divided into normal saline group and sodium danshensu group, with 6 animals in each group.During the maintenance of LIM, periocular injection of 1 ml normal saline or sodium danshensu was performed daily.The contralateral eye was used as a negative control.On days 0, 14, and 28 of the experiment, the axial length of both eyes was measured by A-scan ultrasonography, and the refractive status was assessed with a streak retinoscope.To avoid individual differences, relative spherical equivalent (treated eye-contralateral eye) and relative axial length (treated eye-contralateral eye) were compared.On day 28, the relative expression levels of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) proteins were determined by Western blot.The feeding and use of laboratory animals followed the 3R principle, and the research program was approved by the Ethics Committee of Experimental Animal Center of Zhengzhou University (No.ZZU-LAC 202320405[02]). Results:Sixteen intersecting key targets were screened for myopia and TCM components derived from Salvia divinorum.A TCM network pharmacology map and protein interaction map were constructed with Salvia divinorum as a drug candidate, and the corresponding proteins of target genes, such as MMP2, TGFB1, and MMP9 were screened to perform molecular docking with the active ingredients, such as lignocellulosic acid, danshensu, tanshinone ⅡA, and so on.After 14 days of induction, the relative spherical equivalent and relative axial length were (-4.67±1.03)D and (0.67±0.26)mm in sodium danshensu group, and (-6.30±1.22)D and (1.08±0.34)mm normal saline group, indicating slower myopia progression and axial elongation in sodium danshensu group, and the differences were statistically significant ( t=2.412, P=0.039; t=2.750, P=0.049). The relative expression levels of HIF-1α protein were 0.20±0.01, 1.29±0.05 and 0.63±0.02, and the relative expression levels of TGF-β1 protein were 0.93±0.05, 0.25±0.01 and 0.74±0.05 in the negative control, normal saline and sodium danshensu groups, respectively.The expression of HIF-1α protein was higher in sodium danshensu group than in negative control group but lower than in the normal saline group, and the expression of TGF-β1 protein was lower in sodium danshensu group than in negative control group but higher than in the normal saline group, showing statistically significant differences (all at P<0.05). Conclusions:Natural compounds extracted from Salvia divinorum extracts may serve as potential drug candidates to combat scleral hypoxia and improve scleral extracellular matrix remodeling.
7.Application value of intrathoracic Kamikawa anastomosis after total laparoscopic proximal stomach and lower esophagus resection through the abdominal-left diaphragmatic approach for adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction
Peng CUI ; Yinhao YANG ; Wei WEI ; Liang ZONG ; Dongyang SONG ; Jie WANG ; Qisheng CHENG ; Xiaonan WEI ; Bo WANG ; Wenqing HU
Chinese Journal of Digestive Surgery 2024;23(10):1309-1315
Objective:To investigate the application value of intrathoracic Kamikawa anas-tomosis after laparoscopic proximal stomach and lower esophagus resection through the abdominal-left diaphragmatic approach for adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction.Methods:The retros-pective and descriptive method was conducted. The clinical data of 3 patients with adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction who were admitted to Changzhi People ′s Hospital Affiliated to Changzhi Medical College from April to June 2022 were collected. All patients were male, aged 69 years, 60 years and 66 years, respectively. Patients underwent total laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy and lower esophageal resection with intrathoracic Kamikawa anastomosis through the abdominal-left diaph-ragmatic approach.Results:(1) Operative and postoperative situations. All the 3 patients success-fully underwent total laparoscopic proximal stomach and lower esophagus resection with intra-thoracic Kamikawa anastomosis through the abdominal-left diaphragmatic approach. The operation time was 5.3 hours, 5.3 hours and 4.8 hours, respectively. The digestive tract reconstruction time was 68 minutes, 62 minutes and 55 minutes, respectively. The volume of intraoperative blood loss was 80 mL, 30 mL and 100 mL, respectively. The postoperative first flatus time of 3 patients was on the third day after operation, and the first defecation time was on the postoperative fourth, sixth and third day. All the 3 patients underwent upper gastrointestinal imaging on the postoperative third and seventh day, and no anastomotic leakage, anastomotic stenosis or contrast agent reflux occurred. The indwelling time of abdominal drainage tube was 6 days, 7 days and 6 days, respectively. The indwel-ling time of thoracic drainage tube was 3 days, 5 days and 4 days, respectively. The duration of post-operative hospital stay was 14 days, 14 days, and 16 days, respectively. (2) Postoperative complica-tions and pathological examination. Of the 3 patients, 1 patient had postoperative pleural effusion of Clavien-Dindo grade Ⅰ, and 1 patient had bilateral pleural effusion of Clavien-Dindo grade Ⅰ. The postoperative pathological examination of 3 patients showed high-moderately differentiated adeno-carcinoma, moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma and moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma, respectively. The tumor maximum diameter of 3 patients was 3.0 cm, 3.5 cm and 3.5 cm, respec-tively. The ratio of the number of lymph node metastasis to the number of lymph node dissection was 0/43, 1/34 and 6/44, respectively. Postoperative pathological staging showed stage T3N0M0, T3N1M0, T3N2M0, respectively. (3) Follow-up. There was no reflux of contrast agent or anastomotic stenosis in upper gastrointestinal imaging of the 3 positions at 3 and 12 months after operation. No reflux esophagitis of LA-B grade or above was found by electronic gastroscopy at 3 and 12 months after operation. Nutritional indicators and quality of life were good in 3 patients. No tumor recur-rence or metastasis was found in chest and abdominal computed tonography at 12 months after operation, and anti-reflux structure was found after reconstruction of digestive tract in thoracic cavity.Conclusion:Intrathoracic Kamikawa anastomosis after laparoscopic proximal stomach and lower esophagus resection through the abdominal-left diaphragmatic approach for adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction is safe and feasible, with excellent anti-reflux effect.
8.Application value of intrathoracic Kamikawa anastomosis after total laparoscopic proximal stomach and lower esophagus resection through the abdominal-left diaphragmatic approach for adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction
Peng CUI ; Yinhao YANG ; Wei WEI ; Liang ZONG ; Dongyang SONG ; Jie WANG ; Qisheng CHENG ; Xiaonan WEI ; Bo WANG ; Wenqing HU
Chinese Journal of Digestive Surgery 2024;23(10):1309-1315
Objective:To investigate the application value of intrathoracic Kamikawa anas-tomosis after laparoscopic proximal stomach and lower esophagus resection through the abdominal-left diaphragmatic approach for adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction.Methods:The retros-pective and descriptive method was conducted. The clinical data of 3 patients with adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction who were admitted to Changzhi People ′s Hospital Affiliated to Changzhi Medical College from April to June 2022 were collected. All patients were male, aged 69 years, 60 years and 66 years, respectively. Patients underwent total laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy and lower esophageal resection with intrathoracic Kamikawa anastomosis through the abdominal-left diaph-ragmatic approach.Results:(1) Operative and postoperative situations. All the 3 patients success-fully underwent total laparoscopic proximal stomach and lower esophagus resection with intra-thoracic Kamikawa anastomosis through the abdominal-left diaphragmatic approach. The operation time was 5.3 hours, 5.3 hours and 4.8 hours, respectively. The digestive tract reconstruction time was 68 minutes, 62 minutes and 55 minutes, respectively. The volume of intraoperative blood loss was 80 mL, 30 mL and 100 mL, respectively. The postoperative first flatus time of 3 patients was on the third day after operation, and the first defecation time was on the postoperative fourth, sixth and third day. All the 3 patients underwent upper gastrointestinal imaging on the postoperative third and seventh day, and no anastomotic leakage, anastomotic stenosis or contrast agent reflux occurred. The indwelling time of abdominal drainage tube was 6 days, 7 days and 6 days, respectively. The indwel-ling time of thoracic drainage tube was 3 days, 5 days and 4 days, respectively. The duration of post-operative hospital stay was 14 days, 14 days, and 16 days, respectively. (2) Postoperative complica-tions and pathological examination. Of the 3 patients, 1 patient had postoperative pleural effusion of Clavien-Dindo grade Ⅰ, and 1 patient had bilateral pleural effusion of Clavien-Dindo grade Ⅰ. The postoperative pathological examination of 3 patients showed high-moderately differentiated adeno-carcinoma, moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma and moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma, respectively. The tumor maximum diameter of 3 patients was 3.0 cm, 3.5 cm and 3.5 cm, respec-tively. The ratio of the number of lymph node metastasis to the number of lymph node dissection was 0/43, 1/34 and 6/44, respectively. Postoperative pathological staging showed stage T3N0M0, T3N1M0, T3N2M0, respectively. (3) Follow-up. There was no reflux of contrast agent or anastomotic stenosis in upper gastrointestinal imaging of the 3 positions at 3 and 12 months after operation. No reflux esophagitis of LA-B grade or above was found by electronic gastroscopy at 3 and 12 months after operation. Nutritional indicators and quality of life were good in 3 patients. No tumor recur-rence or metastasis was found in chest and abdominal computed tonography at 12 months after operation, and anti-reflux structure was found after reconstruction of digestive tract in thoracic cavity.Conclusion:Intrathoracic Kamikawa anastomosis after laparoscopic proximal stomach and lower esophagus resection through the abdominal-left diaphragmatic approach for adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction is safe and feasible, with excellent anti-reflux effect.
9.PXR activation impairs hepatic glucose metabolism partly via inhibiting the HNF4α-GLUT2 pathway.
Peihua LIU ; Ling JIANG ; Weimin KONG ; Qiushi XIE ; Ping LI ; Xiaonan LIU ; Jiayi ZHANG ; Ming LIU ; Zhongjian WANG ; Liang ZHU ; Hanyu YANG ; Ying ZHOU ; Jianjun ZOU ; Xiaodong LIU ; Li LIU
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2022;12(5):2391-2405
Drug-induced hyperglycemia/diabetes is a global issue. Some drugs induce hyperglycemia by activating the pregnane X receptor (PXR), but the mechanism is unclear. Here, we report that PXR activation induces hyperglycemia by impairing hepatic glucose metabolism due to inhibition of the hepatocyte nuclear factor 4-alpha (HNF4α)‒glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2) pathway. The PXR agonists atorvastatin and rifampicin significantly downregulated GLUT2 and HNF4α expression, and impaired glucose uptake and utilization in HepG2 cells. Overexpression of PXR downregulated GLUT2 and HNF4α expression, while silencing PXR upregulated HNF4α and GLUT2 expression. Silencing HNF4α decreased GLUT2 expression, while overexpressing HNF4α increased GLUT2 expression and glucose uptake. Silencing PXR or overexpressing HNF4α reversed the atorvastatin-induced decrease in GLUT2 expression and glucose uptake. In human primary hepatocytes, atorvastatin downregulated GLUT2 and HNF4α mRNA expression, which could be attenuated by silencing PXR. Silencing HNF4α downregulated GLUT2 mRNA expression. These findings were reproduced with mouse primary hepatocytes. Hnf4α plasmid increased Slc2a2 promoter activity. Hnf4α silencing or pregnenolone-16α-carbonitrile (PCN) suppressed the Slc2a2 promoter activity by decreasing HNF4α recruitment to the Slc2a2 promoter. Liver-specific Hnf4α deletion and PCN impaired glucose tolerance and hepatic glucose uptake, and decreased the expression of hepatic HNF4α and GLUT2. In conclusion, PXR activation impaired hepatic glucose metabolism partly by inhibiting the HNF4α‒GLUT2 pathway. These results highlight the molecular mechanisms by which PXR activators induce hyperglycemia/diabetes.
10.Study on the compatibility principle of Wutou Decoction based on network pharmacology
WANG Weijie ; YANG Xiaonan ; WANG Yilin ; PAN Hudan ; LIU Liang
Digital Chinese Medicine 2022;5(1):1-8
Objective To investigate the underlying drug enhancement mechanisms of the Chuanwu (Aconiti Radix) and Huangqi (Astragali Radix) combination and toxicity reduction of Chuanwu combined with Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) in Wutou Decoction (乌头汤, WTD), and to elucidate the compatibility principle. Methods The active compounds and potential effective targets of the selected combinations were retrieved from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP) and Traditional Chinese Medicines Integrated Database (TCMID). The toxicity of Chuanwu (Aconiti Radix) was investigated by selecting all five toxic compounds from the literature and the TCMSP database, and obtaining their targets through SwissTargetPrediction. Targets related to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were searched using DisGeNET, GenCards, and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM). Mutual targets between the drug pairs and RA were selected as potential RA therapy targets. The medicinally active compound-target network was constructed using Cytoscape 3.9.0. Gene ontology (GO) term enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment were performed using the Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) platform. Results We obtained 191 active compound targets for Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), 171 for Huangqi (Astragali Radix), and 103 for Chuanwu (Radix Aconiti) (hypoaconitine’s target was obtained through literature and SwissTargetPrediction). A total of 5872 genes were obtained for RA. A drug-active compound-target network involving 13 effect-enhancing and nine toxicity reduction targets was constructed. PGR was the main effect enhancement target, and KCNH2 was the main toxicity reduction target. The effect-enhancing targets were related to 23 GO terms (such as positive regulation of transcription from RNA polymerase II promoter, steroid hormone-mediated signaling pathway, plasma membrane, and protein binding) (P < 0.01), and 13 KEGG pathways related to synergism [such as estrogen signaling pathway, cholinergic synapse, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) signaling pathway]. The toxicity reduction targets were related to 28 GO terms (mainly involes G-protein coupled receptor signaling pathway, plasma membrane, and drug binding) (P < 0.01), and five KEGG pathways related to toxicity reduction (cholinergic synapse, calcium signaling pathway, regulation of actin cytoskeleton, neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, and serotonergic synapse). Conclusion The combination of Chuanwu (Aconiti Radix) and Huangqi (Astragali Radix) plays an important effect-enhancing role in WTD and involves the estrogen and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways, with PGR as the core. The Chuanwu (Aconiti Radix) and Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) combination decreases toxicity in WTD and is associated with the cholinergic synapse and calcium signaling pathways, with KCNH2 as the core.

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