As an exclusive Miao medicine of Honwing Pharma （Guizhou） Co. Ltd.， Yifei Zhike capsules are both a prescription drug and an over-the-counter （OTC） drug. Its main ingredients include Ranunculus ternatus and Panax notoginseng. With the effects of nourishing Yin and moistening the lungs， as well as relieving cough and reducing phlegm， Yifei Zhike capsules are often used in the treatment of acute and chronic bronchitis， pulmonary tuberculosis， and other diseases. However， there is insufficient understanding of their efficacy， suitable syndromes， and safety in clinical practice， with a lack of relevant expert consensus on clinical application. To standardize their clinical application， 30 experts from the fields of respiratory medicine， pharmacy， and evidence-based medicine were invited to develop an Expert Consensus on the Clinical Application of Yifei Zhike Capsules （Consensus for short） through evidence-based medicine methods. The Consensus clarified the syndrome characteristics， disease stages， dosages， treatment courses， combined medication， and other norms in the treatment of acute/chronic bronchitis and pulmonary tuberculosis and could be applicable to clinical physicians and pharmacists in medical and health institutions at all levels. In disease diagnosis， it provided diagnostic criteria for traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine and clarified that the suitable traditional Chinese medicine syndrome was the syndrome of Qi-Yin deficiency with intermingled phlegm-blood stasis. Clinical studies have confirmed that Yifei Zhike capsules combined with standard anti-tuberculosis therapy can effectively improve the symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis patients， increase the sputum smear conversion rate， and promote the absorption of lesions. When treating acute cough caused by respiratory tract infections， Yifei Zhike capsules can increase the markedly effective rate and the seven-day disappearance rate of cough symptoms. Meanwhile， recommendations for specific usage， dosages， and treatment courses were given for different diseases， and it was pointed out that long-term medication required key monitoring of adverse reactions. In safety， the adverse reactions of Yifei Zhike capsules involved multiple aspects such as the digestive system and allergic reactions， and pregnant women and women during menstruation were prohibited from using it. In addition， modern research has shown that Yifei Zhike capsules have an adjuvant therapeutic effect on tuberculous pleurisy and may be effective for inflammatory and benign pulmonary nodules. However， further research should be conducted on the toxicological safety of long-term medication. The formulation of the Consensus provides a scientific basis for the rational clinical application of Yifei Zhike capsules， which helps to improve clinical efficacy and reduce medication risks.

As an exclusive Miao medicine of Honwing Pharma （Guizhou） Co. Ltd.， Yifei Zhike capsules are both a prescription drug and an over-the-counter （OTC） drug. Its main ingredients include Ranunculus ternatus and Panax notoginseng. With the effects of nourishing Yin and moistening the lungs， as well as relieving cough and reducing phlegm， Yifei Zhike capsules are often used in the treatment of acute and chronic bronchitis， pulmonary tuberculosis， and other diseases. However， there is insufficient understanding of their efficacy， suitable syndromes， and safety in clinical practice， with a lack of relevant expert consensus on clinical application. To standardize their clinical application， 30 experts from the fields of respiratory medicine， pharmacy， and evidence-based medicine were invited to develop an Expert Consensus on the Clinical Application of Yifei Zhike Capsules （Consensus for short） through evidence-based medicine methods. The Consensus clarified the syndrome characteristics， disease stages， dosages， treatment courses， combined medication， and other norms in the treatment of acute/chronic bronchitis and pulmonary tuberculosis and could be applicable to clinical physicians and pharmacists in medical and health institutions at all levels. In disease diagnosis， it provided diagnostic criteria for traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine and clarified that the suitable traditional Chinese medicine syndrome was the syndrome of Qi-Yin deficiency with intermingled phlegm-blood stasis. Clinical studies have confirmed that Yifei Zhike capsules combined with standard anti-tuberculosis therapy can effectively improve the symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis patients， increase the sputum smear conversion rate， and promote the absorption of lesions. When treating acute cough caused by respiratory tract infections， Yifei Zhike capsules can increase the markedly effective rate and the seven-day disappearance rate of cough symptoms. Meanwhile， recommendations for specific usage， dosages， and treatment courses were given for different diseases， and it was pointed out that long-term medication required key monitoring of adverse reactions. In safety， the adverse reactions of Yifei Zhike capsules involved multiple aspects such as the digestive system and allergic reactions， and pregnant women and women during menstruation were prohibited from using it. In addition， modern research has shown that Yifei Zhike capsules have an adjuvant therapeutic effect on tuberculous pleurisy and may be effective for inflammatory and benign pulmonary nodules. However， further research should be conducted on the toxicological safety of long-term medication. The formulation of the Consensus provides a scientific basis for the rational clinical application of Yifei Zhike capsules， which helps to improve clinical efficacy and reduce medication risks.

BACKGROUND:As the end bearing joint of the human body,the ankle joint bears the top-down pressure of the body,which leads to the ankle joint is easy to be damaged in the movement,can induce functional ankle instability,which negatively affects daily life.The study of lower extremity biomechanics in patients with functional ankle instability during counter movement jump is of great significance for scientific training,prevention of ankle injury,and clinical rehabilitation after injury. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the kinetics and kinematics of lower limbs in the longitudinal jumping of functional ankle instability population. METHODS:From March to September 2023,15 male patients with functional ankle instability and 15 healthy people,aged 22-28 years old,were recruited in Soochow University.All subjects completed counter movement jump experiment.Vicon infrared high-speed motion capture system and Kistler three-dimensional force measuring table were used to simultaneously collect the lower limb kinematics and kinetics indexes of the two groups of subjects at the take-off stage of counter movement jump,the instant off the ground,the initial landing moment and the peak moment of vertical ground reaction force. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)At the instant off the ground,the affected side of the functional ankle instability group showed smaller knee internal rotation moment(P=0.020)and smaller ankle internal rotation moment(P=0.009)compared with the affected side of the healthy control group.(2)At the moment of landing,the affected side of the functional ankle instability group showed a smaller hip flexion angle than the affected side of the healthy control group(P=0.039).Compared with the healthy control group,functional ankle instability group showed smaller hip abduction angle(P=0.022),smaller knee varus angle(P=0.010),larger knee external rotation angle(P=0.021),smaller ankle varus angle(P=0.004),and smaller external ankle rotation angle(P=0.008).(3)At the peak of vertical ground reaction force,functional ankle instability group showed a smaller ankle varus angle than healthy control group(P=0.044).(4)The results showed that the lower limb biomechanical characteristics of the patients with functional ankle instability were abnormal compared with the healthy people during counter movement jump,which mainly showed the changes of the kinematics and kinetics indexes of the lower limb joints in the sagittal plane and the frontal plane at the moment of lift-off and landing.These changes reflect that people with functional ankle instability adopt rigid take-off and landing patterns when performing counter movement jump,tend to transfer the load of the affected ankle joint to other joints of the lower limb,and show compensatory phenomenon of the healthy lower limb.Therefore,detection and correction of abnormal biomechanical features should be a part of rehabilitation training for those with functional ankle instability.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of zedoarondiol on neovascularization of atherosclerotic (AS) plaque by exosomes experiment. METHODS: ApoE^-/- mice were fed with high-fat diet to establish AS model and treated with high- and low-dose (10, 5 mg/kg daily) of zedoarondiol, respectively. After 14 weeks, the expressions of anti-angiogenic protein thrombospondin 1 (THBS-1) and its receptor CD36 in plaques, as well as platelet activation rate and exosome-derived miR-let-7a were detected. Then, zedoarondiol was used to intervene in platelets in vitro, and miR-let-7a was detected in platelet-derived exosomes (Pexo). Finally, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were transfected with miR-let-7a mimics and treated with Pexo to observe the effect of miR-let-7a in Pexo on tube formation. RESULTS: Animal experiments showed that after treating with zedoarondiol, the neovascularization density in plaques of AS mice was significantly reduced, THBS-1 and CD36 increased, the platelet activation rate was markedly reduced, and the miR-let-7a level in Pexo was reduced (P<0.01). In vitro experiments, the platelet activation rate and miR-let-7a levels in Pexo were significantly reduced after zedoarondiol's intervention. Cell experiments showed that after Pexo's intervention, the tube length increased, and the transfection of miR-let-7a minics further increased the tube length of cells, while reducing the expressions of THBS-1 and CD36. CONCLUSION Zedoarondiol has the effect of inhibiting neovascularization within plaque in AS mice, and its mechanism may be potentially related to inhibiting platelet activation and reducing the Pexo-derived miRNA-let-7a level.
Animals ; MicroRNAs/genetics* ; Exosomes/drug effects* ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic/genetics* ; Neovascularization, Pathologic/genetics* ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells/metabolism* ; Humans ; Blood Platelets/drug effects* ; Apolipoproteins E/deficiency* ; Thrombospondin 1/metabolism* ; CD36 Antigens/metabolism* ; Platelet Activation/drug effects* ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the therapeutic potential of pseudolaric acid B (PAB) on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its underlying molecular mechanism in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: Eight-week-old male C57BL/6J mice (n=32) were fed either a normal chow diet (NCD) or a high-fat diet (HFD) for 8 weeks. The HFD mice were divided into 3 groups according to a simple random method, including HFD, PAB low-dose [10 mg/(kg·d), PAB-L], and PAB high-dose [20 mg/(kg·d), PAB-H] groups. After 8 weeks of treatment, glucose metabolism and insulin resistance were assessed by oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and insulin tolerance test (ITT). Biochemical assays were used to measure the serum and cellular levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). White adipose tissue (WAT), brown adipose tissue (BAT) and liver tissue were subjected to hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining or Oil Red O staining to observe the alterations in adipose tissue and liver injury. PharmMapper and DisGeNet were used to predict the NAFLD-related PAB targets. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) pathway involvement was suggested by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and search tool Retrieval of Interacting Genes (STRING) analyses. Luciferase reporter assay, cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA), and drug affinity responsive target stability assay (DARTS) were conducted to confirm direct binding of PAB with PPARα. Molecular dynamics simulations were applied to further validate target engagement. RT-qPCR and Western blot were performed to assess the downstream genes and proteins expression, and validated by PPARα inhibitor MK886. RESULTS: PAB significantly reduced serum TC, TG, LDL-C, AST, and ALT levels, and increased HDL-C level in HFD mice (P<0.01). Target prediction analysis indicated a significant correlation between PAB and PPARα pathway. PAB direct target binding with PPARα was confirmed through luciferase reporter assay, CETSA, and DARTS (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The target engagement between PAB and PPARα protein was further confirmed by molecular dynamics simulations and the top 3 amino acid residues, LEU321, MET355, and PHE273 showed the most significant changes in mutational energy. Subsequently, PAB upregulated the genes expressions involved in lipid metabolism and mitochondrial biogenesis downstream of PPARα (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Significantly, the PPARα inhibitor MK886 effectively reversed the lipid-lowering and PPARα activation properties of PAB (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSION PAB mitigates lipid accumulation, ameliorates liver damage, and improves mitochondrial biogenesis by binding with PPARα, thus presenting a potential candidate for pharmaceutical development in the treatment of NAFLD.
Animals ; PPAR alpha/metabolism* ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/pathology* ; Male ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Lipid Metabolism/drug effects* ; Diterpenes/therapeutic use* ; Organelle Biogenesis ; Diet, High-Fat ; Humans ; Mice ; Liver/metabolism* ; Insulin Resistance ; Mitochondria/metabolism* ; Molecular Docking Simulation

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

Locomotion, a fundamental motor function encompassing various forms such as swimming, walking, running, and flying, is essential for animal survival and adaptation. The mesencephalic locomotor region (MLR), located at the midbrain-hindbrain junction, is a conserved brain area critical for controlling locomotion. This review highlights recent advances in understanding the MLR’s structure and function across species, from lampreys to mammals and birds, with a particular focus on insights gained from optogenetic studies in mammals. The goal is to uncover universal strategies for MLR-mediated locomotor control. Electrical stimulation of the MLR in species such as lampreys, salamanders, cats, and mice initiates locomotion and modulates speed and patterns. For example, in lampreys, MLR stimulation induces swimming, with increased intensity or frequency enhancing propulsive force. Similarly, in salamanders, graded stimulation transitions locomotor outputs from walking to swimming. Histochemical studies reveal that effective MLR stimulation sites colocalize with cholinergic neurons, suggesting a conserved neurochemical basis for locomotion control. In mammals, the MLR comprises two key nuclei: the cuneiform nucleus (CnF) and the pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN). Both nuclei contain glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons, with the PPN additionally housing cholinergic neurons. Optogenetic studies in mice by selectively activating glutamatergic neurons have demonstrated that the CnF and PPN play distinct roles in motor control: the CnF drives rapid escape behaviors, while the PPN regulates slower, exploratory movements. This functional specialization within the MLR allows animals to adapt their locomotion patterns and speed in response to environmental demands and behavioral objectives. Similar to findings in lampreys, the CnF and PPN in mice transmit motor commands to spinal effector circuits by modulating the activity of brainstem reticular formation neurons. However, they achieve this through distinct reticulospinal pathways, enabling the generation of specific behaviors. Further insights from monosynaptic rabies viral tracing reveal that the CnF and PPN integrate inputs from diverse brain regions to produce context-appropriate behaviors. For instance, glutamatergic neurons in the PPN receive signals from other midbrain structures, the basal ganglia, and medullary nuclei, whereas glutamatergic neurons in the CnF rarely receive inputs from the basal ganglia but instead are strongly influenced by the periaqueductal grey and inferior colliculus within the midbrain. These differential connectivity patterns underscore the specialized roles of the CnF and PPN in motor control, highlighting their unique contributions to coordinating locomotion. Birds exhibit exceptional flight capabilities, yet the avian MLR remains poorly understood. Comparative studies suggest that the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPTg) in birds is homologous to the mammalian PPN, which contains cholinergic neurons, while the intercollicular nucleus (ICo) or nucleus isthmi pars magnocellularis (ImC) may correspond to the CnF. These findings provide important clues for identifying the avian MLR and elucidating its role in flight control. However, functional validation through targeted experiments is urgently needed to confirm these hypotheses. Optogenetics and other advanced techniques in mice have greatly advanced MLR research, enabling precise manipulation of specific neuronal populations. Future studies should extend these methods to other species, particularly birds, to explore unique locomotor adaptations. Comparative analyses of MLR structure and function across species will deepen our understanding of the conserved and evolved features of motor control, revealing fundamental principles of locomotion regulation throughout evolution. By integrating findings from diverse species, we can uncover how the MLR has been adapted to meet the locomotor demands of different environments, from aquatic to aerial habitats.

The compilation instructions for the Expert Consensus on Clinical Application of Yifei Zhike Capsules systematically expound the development background， methodological framework， and core achievements of this consensus. In view of the problems existing in the clinical application of Yifei Zhike Capsules， such as insufficient efficacy evidence and lack of standardized syndrome differentiation， the Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine， China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences took the lead and collaborated with 21 tertiary grade-A hospitals and research institutions across China to form a multidisciplinary expert group （comprising 30 experts in clinical medicine， pharmacy， and methodology）. The compilation work was carried out in strict accordance with the World Health Organization （WHO） guidelines， the GB/T 1.1-2020 standard， and the writing specifications for the explanatory notes of expert consensus on clinical application of Chinese patent medicines. Through systematic literature retrieval （including 32 studies， with 24 clinical studies）， Grading of Recommendations Assessment， Development and Evaluations （GRADE）-based evidence grading， and multiple rounds of discussions using the nominal group method （25 experts voted to determine 17 clinical questions）， 5 evidence-based recommendations and 11 expert consensus suggestions were formed. It is clarified that this medicine （Yifei Zhike Capsules） is applicable to the treatment of expectoration/hemoptysis in acute and chronic bronchitis and the adjuvant treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. It is recommended that it can be used alone or in combination with anti-tuberculosis drugs. The safety evaluation shows that this medicine mainly induces the following adverse reactions： mild gastrointestinal reactions （such as nausea and abdominal pain） and rashes. The contraindicated populations include pregnant women and women during menstruation. The compilation process of the consensus underwent three rounds of expert letter reviews， two rounds of peer reviews， and quality control assessments to ensure methodological rigor and clinical applicability. In addition， through policy alignment， academic promotion， and a dynamic revision mechanism， the standardization of clinical application was promoted， providing a demonstration for the evidence-based transformation of characteristic therapies of Miao medicine.

ObjectiveTraditional Chinese medicine (TCM) constitutes a valuable cultural heritage and an important source of antitumor compounds. Poria (Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf), the dried sclerotium of a polyporaceae fungus, was first documented in Shennong’s Classic of Materia Medica and has been used therapeutically and dietarily in China for millennia. Traditionally recognized for its diuretic, spleen-tonifying, and sedative properties, modern pharmacological studies confirm that Poria exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antitumor activities. Pachymic acid (PA; a triterpenoid with the chemical structure 3β-acetyloxy-16α-hydroxy-lanosta-8,24(31)-dien-21-oic acid), isolated from Poria, is a principal bioactive constituent. Emerging evidence indicates PA exerts antitumor effects through multiple mechanisms, though these remain incompletely characterized. Neuroblastoma (NB), a highly malignant pediatric extracranial solid tumor accounting for 15% of childhood cancer deaths, urgently requires safer therapeutics due to the limitations of current treatments. Although PA shows multi-mechanistic antitumor potential, its efficacy against NB remains uncharacterized. This study systematically investigated the potential molecular targets and mechanisms underlying the anti-NB effects of PA by integrating network pharmacology-based target prediction with experimental validation of multi-target interactions through molecular docking, dynamic simulations, and in vitro assays, aimed to establish a novel perspective on PA’s antitumor activity and explore its potential clinical implications for NB treatment by integrating computational predictions with biological assays. MethodsThis study employed network pharmacology to identify potential targets of PA in NB, followed by validation using molecular docking, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, MM/PBSA free energy analysis, RT-qPCR and Western blot experiments. Network pharmacology analysis included target screening via TCMSP, GeneCards, DisGeNET, SwissTargetPrediction, SuperPred, and PharmMapper. Subsequently, potential targets were predicted by intersecting the results from these databases via Venn analysis. Following target prediction, topological analysis was performed to identify key targets using Cytoscape software. Molecular docking was conducted using AutoDock Vina, with the binding pocket defined based on crystal structures. MD simulations were performed for 100 ns using GROMACS, and RMSD, RMSF, SASA, and hydrogen bonding dynamics were analyzed. MM/PBSA calculations were carried out to estimate the binding free energy of each protein-ligand complex. In vitro validation included RT-qPCR and Western blot, with GAPDH used as an internal control. ResultsThe CCK-8 assay demonstrated a concentration-dependent inhibitory effect of PA on NB cell viability. GO analysis suggested that the anti-NB activity of PA might involve cellular response to chemical stress, vesicle lumen, and protein tyrosine kinase activity. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis suggested that the anti-NB activity of PA might involve the PI3K/AKT, MAPK, and Ras signaling pathways. Molecular docking and MD simulations revealed stable binding interactions between PA and the core target proteins AKT1, EGFR, SRC, and HSP90AA1. RT-qPCR and Western blot analyses further confirmed that PA treatment significantly decreased the mRNA and protein expression of AKT1, EGFR, and SRC while increasing the HSP90AA1 mRNA and protein levels. ConclusionIt was suggested that PA may exert its anti-NB effects by inhibiting AKT1, EGFR, and SRC expression, potentially modulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. These findings provide crucial evidence supporting PA’s development as a therapeutic candidate for NB.