1.Traditional Chinese Medicine Intervention in Parkinson's Disease Based on Keap1/Nrf2/ARE Signaling Pathway: A Review
Liuping YUE ; Yongkang SUN ; Fangbiao XU ; Yanbo SONG ; Yijun WU ; Huan YU ; Xinzhi WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(9):307-317
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic progressive neurodegenerative disorder primarily characterized by motor dysfunction. The main pathological features include the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, abnormal aggregation of alpha-Synuclein (α-Syn), and the formation of Lewy bodies. However, the exact mechanisms remain unclear. In recent years, the PD incidence has gradually increased, while current treatment methods are limited to symptom alleviation, incapable of halting disease progression, and prone to adverse effects, thus making it urgent to search for medicines effective for PD. Modern research indicates that the Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1)/nuclear factor E2 related factor 2 (Nrf2)/antioxidant response element (ARE) signaling pathway is closely related to oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, apoptosis, ferroptosis, and mitochondrial dysfunction, playing a crucial role in the pathophysiological development of PD. A large number of studies have further confirmed that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can regulate diseases through a holistic view of Syndrome differentiation and microscopic molecular pathways. With unique advantages, such as multiple targets, multiple pathways, and fewer adverse reactions, TCM provides a new strategy for PD treatment. This article elucidates the mechanism of the Keap1/Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway in the occurrence and development of PD, while summarizing the latest research on PD intervention by TCM monomers, active ingredients, and compounds, as well as acupuncture via the precise targeted regulation of the Keap1/Nrf2/ARE pathway, aiming to provide a reference for clinical medicine development to prevent and treat PD.
2.Treatment of Minimally Conscious State with Musk Based on "Phlegm,Fire,Blood Stasis,and Deficiency"
Yanbo SONG ; Yongkang SUN ; Mingyuan LI ; Xinzhi WANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(2):188-192
Minimally conscious state (MCS) is at the edge between closed and open consciousness, but it still belongs to the category of "wind-strike block" syndrome. The basic pathogenesis of MCS is the obstruction of pathogenic qi, orifices closed and spirit hidden, with pathological factors including phlegm, fire, and blood stasis. Wind movement and water retention may also be present, and often leading to deficiency syndrome due to the exhaustion of qi, blood, yin, and yang at later stages. Treatment chooses Shexiang (Moschus) as the chief medicinal, emphasizing combination of medicinals and urgency of medication administration; the key therapeutic method is to open the orifices, with focuses on expelling pathogens and reinforcing healthy qi. For patients with severe phlegm or fire, use Xiaochengqi Decoction (小承气汤) to open the lower orifices, discharge heat and unblock the bowels, combined with Shexiang (Moschus) and Niuhuang (Bovis Calculus) to open the upper orifices, awaken the spirit and guide qi. For patients with turbid phlegm as the predominant, temporarily replace Shexiang (Moschus) with Baizhi (Angelicae dahuricae radix), using Ditan Decoction (涤痰汤) to eliminate phlegm to open the orifices, when turbid phlegm gradually subsided, Shexiang (Moschus) could be added. For patients with blood stasis as the predominant, Tongqiao Huoxue Decoction (通窍活血汤) will be used to activate blood and open orifice, if the blood circulates, the endogenous wind will be calmed, the water will be induced, the orifices will open and the consciousness will restore. For patients with closed orifices and body deficiency, the treatment should open the orifices and reinforce healthy qi, and consider the root and branch simultaneously; qi deficiency syndrome can be addressed with Buyang Huanwu Decoction (补阳还五汤) to boost qi and reinforce healthy qi; yin deficiency syndrome can be treated with Shaoyao Gancao Decoction (芍药甘草汤) combined with Fengsui Pill (封髓丹) to nourish yin, soften sinews, and secure kidney essence; yang deficiency can be managed by using Dihuang Yinzi Decoction (地黄饮子) to enrich yin, supplement yang, and open the orifices.
3.Exploring the Application of Xuming Decoction in Post-Stroke Limb Movement Disorders Based on the Principle of"Wind Prevailing and Causing Movement"
Yanbo SONG ; Yongkang SUN ; Fangbiao XU ; Xinzhi WANG
Journal of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;41(4):436-441
Post-stroke limb movement disorder is a common functional disorder after stroke.Xuming Decoction in Ancient and Modern Records of the Proven is an important prescription of Zhang Zhongjing for treating"stroke prickly heat,the body cannot hold it-self".It has been modified and recorded in many later generations,among which Xiaoxuming Decoction in Important Formulas Worth a Thousand Gold Pieces for Emergency is the most commonly used.With the development of the"internal wind theory"of stroke,the pre-scriptions of Xuming Decoction were gradually criticized and even abandoned because they often used"wind drugs"and were difficult to understand the medical theory of"internal wind".Based on the viewpoints of"wind prevailing and causing movement"and"internal wind being the change of yang qi in the body",the paper proposes the theory of"inducing wind to promote movement"of Xuming De-coction and believes that"wind is qi".At the beginning of stroke,wind-yang is violently hyperactive,and wind prevails and causes movement,resulting in stroke;after stroke,yang qi is weak,wind is defeated and static,and limbs are unable to use.However,"wind drugs"such as Ephedra sinica Stapf and Cinnamomum aromaticum Nees have the functions of generating wind and promoting movement,revitalizing the decadent and the useless,exciting yang qi,harmonizing the ying and wei,and raising and lowering qi.The Xuming Decoction is mainly composed of"wind drugs",which warms the yang and replenishes the qi,generates wind to excite yang qi,and revitalizes the weak;replenishes the yang to induce wind and promote movement,replenishes qi and generates blood;relieves muscles to harmonize the ying and wei,and dredges the limbs;restores the pivot to regulate the axis of the internal organs,unblocks the qi,and promotes the recovery of limb motor function after stroke,providing a theoretical basis for the clinical application of Xuming Decoction.
4.Stellate ganglion block versus conventional western medication for the treatment of insomnia:a meta-analysis
Yanbo SONG ; Yongkang SUN ; Fangbiao XU ; Xinzhi WANG
Journal of Interventional Radiology 2025;34(1):48-57
Objective To compare the efficacy and safety of stellate ganglion block(SGB)with those of conventional western medication in the treatment of insomnia.Methods A computerized retrieval of academic papers concerning the clinical randomized controlled trials of SGB versus conventional western medication in the treatment of insomnia from the databases of PubMed,Embase,Cochrane Library,CNKI,Wanfang Data knowledge service platform,VIP database and CBM database was conducted.The retrieval time period was from the establishment of the database to June 13,2023.NoteExpress v3.5 software was used to make literature screening,Stata17.0 software was used to perform meta-analysis of the obtained data,TSA0.9.5.10 beta software was used to make sequential analysis,and GRADEpro was used to perform the grade classification.Results A total of 11 articles including 875 patients with insomnia were included in this analysis.Compared with the conventional western medication,SGB showed certain advantages in the following aspects:improving total clinical effectiveness(RR total=1.24,95%CI:1.16-1.32,P<0.01),increasing the proportion of patients who could sleep for more than 3 hours after treatment(RR total=1.24,95%CI:1.09-1.41,P=0.001),increasing total sleep time(SMD=1.53,95%CI:0.89-2.16,P<0.01),reducing sleep latency(MD=-14.08,95%CI:-18.72--9.43,P<0.01),decreasing PSQI score(MD=-3.54,95%CI:-4.31--2.78,P<0.01),and reducing the recurrence rate within 6 months(RR=0.19,95%CI:0.10-0.37,P<0.01).However,the difference in the proportion of patients who could sleep for more than 6 hours after treatment between the two groups was not statistically significant(RR=1.31,95%CI:0.97-1.76,P=0.078).The traditional SGB therapy had a certain risk of adverse events,ultrasound-guided SGB therapy was much safer.Trial sequential analysis showed that the cumulative sample size of the effective rate crossed the conventional threshold and TSA threshold,the positive results had been obtained in advance although it did not reach RIS.The quality of evidence evaluated by GRADE for the sleep latency,PSQI and recurrence rate within 6 months was medium grade,and the quality for the remaining indexes was low grade.Conclusion Compared with conventional western medication for the treatment of insomnia,the effect of SGB in increasing the total response rate,the proportion of patients who get sleeping for more than 3 hours after treatment and the total sleep duration,in reducing sleep latency,PSQI score and recurrence rate within 6 months has gained some certain evidence supports.The SGB and conventional western medication have similar efficacy in improving the proportion of patients who get sleeping for more than 6 hours after treatment.The results of this study are stable and reliable,but the current level of evidence grade is lower,therefore,large-sample randomized controlled trials need to be conducted before its clinical efficacy can get further evidence-based support.
5.Exploring the Application of Xuming Decoction in Post-Stroke Limb Movement Disorders Based on the Principle of"Wind Prevailing and Causing Movement"
Yanbo SONG ; Yongkang SUN ; Fangbiao XU ; Xinzhi WANG
Journal of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;41(4):436-441
Post-stroke limb movement disorder is a common functional disorder after stroke.Xuming Decoction in Ancient and Modern Records of the Proven is an important prescription of Zhang Zhongjing for treating"stroke prickly heat,the body cannot hold it-self".It has been modified and recorded in many later generations,among which Xiaoxuming Decoction in Important Formulas Worth a Thousand Gold Pieces for Emergency is the most commonly used.With the development of the"internal wind theory"of stroke,the pre-scriptions of Xuming Decoction were gradually criticized and even abandoned because they often used"wind drugs"and were difficult to understand the medical theory of"internal wind".Based on the viewpoints of"wind prevailing and causing movement"and"internal wind being the change of yang qi in the body",the paper proposes the theory of"inducing wind to promote movement"of Xuming De-coction and believes that"wind is qi".At the beginning of stroke,wind-yang is violently hyperactive,and wind prevails and causes movement,resulting in stroke;after stroke,yang qi is weak,wind is defeated and static,and limbs are unable to use.However,"wind drugs"such as Ephedra sinica Stapf and Cinnamomum aromaticum Nees have the functions of generating wind and promoting movement,revitalizing the decadent and the useless,exciting yang qi,harmonizing the ying and wei,and raising and lowering qi.The Xuming Decoction is mainly composed of"wind drugs",which warms the yang and replenishes the qi,generates wind to excite yang qi,and revitalizes the weak;replenishes the yang to induce wind and promote movement,replenishes qi and generates blood;relieves muscles to harmonize the ying and wei,and dredges the limbs;restores the pivot to regulate the axis of the internal organs,unblocks the qi,and promotes the recovery of limb motor function after stroke,providing a theoretical basis for the clinical application of Xuming Decoction.
6.Comparison on the treatment of proliferative diabetic retinopathy with ranibizumab and conbercept adjuvant for pars plana vitrectomy
Xinzhi SONG ; Yuxia FAN ; Xiangli WANG ; Ying WANG ; Xuemei ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Ocular Fundus Diseases 2025;41(1):15-20
Objective:To compare the outcomes of ranibizumab and conbercept adjunct for pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) in the treatment of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).Methods:A prospective randomized case-control study. From June 2022 to December 2023, 90 cases (90 eyes) of PDR patients diagnosed through ophthalmic examination at Department of Ophthalmology of Gansu Provincial Hospital were included in the study. All patients underwent the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure, B-mode ultrasound, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) examinations. The central macular thickness (CMT) was measured using an OCT instrument. The patients were randomly divided into a intravitreal injection of ranibizumab group (monoclonal-antibody group) and a intravitreal injection of conbercept group (fusion-protein group) using a random number table method, with 45 cases (45 eyes) in each group. Two groups of patients were intravitreal injected with 10 mg/ml ranibizumab or conbercept 0.05 ml, respectively. A standard 23G PPV was performed through the flat part of the ciliary body 3-7 days after intravitreal injection. Relevant examinations were performed using the same equipments and methods as before surgery at postoperative 1 week, 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. The PPV time, intraoperative use of intraocular electrocoagulation, incidence of iatrogenic retinal breaks, and sterile air or silicone oil tamponade rate in the vitreous cavity, the postoperative changes of BCVA and CMT, and incidence of complications were compared between two groups. Independent sample t test was used for inter group comparison. Results:The intraoperative utilization rate of intraocular electrocoagulation in the monoclonal-antibody group was higher than that in the fusion-protein group, and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=3.876, P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the PPV time ( t=0.152), intraoperative bleeding rate ( χ2=0.800), incidence of iatrogenic retinal breaks ( χ2=1.975), and sterile air and silicone oil tamponade rate in the vitreous cavity ( χ2=1.607, 1.553) between the two groups ( P>0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in early and late postoperative vitreous hemorrhage ( χ2=1.235, 2.355), and re-PPV ( χ2=2.355) between two groups ( P>0.05). The BCVA of the fusion-protein group was significantly better than that of the monoclonal-antibody group at postoperative 3 months, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=2.428, P<0.05). The CMT of the fusion-protein group was lower than that in the monoclonal-antibody group at postoperative 1 week, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=2.739, P<0.05). None of the patients experienced endophthalmitis, retinal artery occlusion, or severe cardiovascular events after surgery. Conclusion:Compared with intravitreal injection of ranibizumab before PPV, intravitreal injection of conbercept before PPV in PDR patients can shorten the surgical time, reduce intraoperative bleeding rate, lower the rate of electrocoagulation and intraocular tamponade, and incidence of iatrogenic retinal breaks, and improve the visual acuity.
7.Study on the Improvement Effect of Pinelliae Rhizoma Praeparatum Cum Alumine and Its Active Components on Inflamma-tory Response in Acute Lung Injury
Yanqing XU ; Xinzhi WANG ; Xiaobing CUI ; Yuxin GU ; Qianlin CHEN ; Shengjun CHEN ; Song LI ; Hao WU ; Hongli YU
Journal of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;41(8):1055-1065
OBJECTIVE To investigate the ameliorative effect of Pinelliae Rhizoma Praeparatum Cum Alumine and its effective components on inflammatory response in mice with acute lung injury(ALI).METHODS A mice model of acute lung injury induced by lipopolysaccharide(LPS)was used as the in vivo animal model.The levels of inflammatory factors TNF-α,IL-6,and IL-1β,the total protein concentration,the number of inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid,the ratio of lung wet weight to dry weight,and the pathological damage of lung tissues were taken as the evaluation indexes.RAW264.7 macrophages induced by LPS were used as the in vitro experimental model,with the mRNA levels of intracellular inflammatory factors TNF-α,IL-1β,and IL-6 as indicators,systematic solvent extraction and silica gel column chromatography were used to separate and screen the effective parts and components of Pinelliae Rhizoma Praeparatum Cum Alumine for treating acute lung injury.The component composition of the effective fractions was analyzed by mass spectrometry,the content of cyclic dipeptide components in the effective fraction was determined,and the anti-in-flammatory activity of cyclic dipeptides was verified in vitro.RESULTS The ethyl acetate extraction fraction obtained by extracting the supernatant of water extraction and ethanol precipitation of Pinelliae Rhizoma Praeparatum Cum Alumine(referred to as the ethyl acetate fraction for short)significantly improved the inflammatory response in mice with acute lung injury and significantly reduced the mRNA levels of TNF-α,IL-1β,and IL-6 in RAW264.7 cells induced by LPS.The Fr.1 fraction isolated from the ethyl acetate frac-tion by silica gel column chromatography had anti-inflammatory effects in vitro.Mass spectrometry determined the content of two main cyclic dipeptide components,cyclo-(Pro-Phe)and cyclo-(Pro-Val),in the Fr.1 fraction.After mixing these two cyclic dipeptide components in the molar ratio in the Fr.1 fraction and administering them in vitro,the results showed that the combination of these two cyclic dipeptide components could significantly inhibit the mRNA expression levels of TNF-α,IL-1β,and IL-6 in RAW264.7 cells induced by LPS.CONCLUSION Cyclic dipeptide component is one of the main material basis categories for the anti-inflammatory effect of Pinelliae Rhizoma Praeparatum Cum Alumine.
8.Study on the Improvement Effect of Pinelliae Rhizoma Praeparatum Cum Alumine and Its Active Components on Inflamma-tory Response in Acute Lung Injury
Yanqing XU ; Xinzhi WANG ; Xiaobing CUI ; Yuxin GU ; Qianlin CHEN ; Shengjun CHEN ; Song LI ; Hao WU ; Hongli YU
Journal of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;41(8):1055-1065
OBJECTIVE To investigate the ameliorative effect of Pinelliae Rhizoma Praeparatum Cum Alumine and its effective components on inflammatory response in mice with acute lung injury(ALI).METHODS A mice model of acute lung injury induced by lipopolysaccharide(LPS)was used as the in vivo animal model.The levels of inflammatory factors TNF-α,IL-6,and IL-1β,the total protein concentration,the number of inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid,the ratio of lung wet weight to dry weight,and the pathological damage of lung tissues were taken as the evaluation indexes.RAW264.7 macrophages induced by LPS were used as the in vitro experimental model,with the mRNA levels of intracellular inflammatory factors TNF-α,IL-1β,and IL-6 as indicators,systematic solvent extraction and silica gel column chromatography were used to separate and screen the effective parts and components of Pinelliae Rhizoma Praeparatum Cum Alumine for treating acute lung injury.The component composition of the effective fractions was analyzed by mass spectrometry,the content of cyclic dipeptide components in the effective fraction was determined,and the anti-in-flammatory activity of cyclic dipeptides was verified in vitro.RESULTS The ethyl acetate extraction fraction obtained by extracting the supernatant of water extraction and ethanol precipitation of Pinelliae Rhizoma Praeparatum Cum Alumine(referred to as the ethyl acetate fraction for short)significantly improved the inflammatory response in mice with acute lung injury and significantly reduced the mRNA levels of TNF-α,IL-1β,and IL-6 in RAW264.7 cells induced by LPS.The Fr.1 fraction isolated from the ethyl acetate frac-tion by silica gel column chromatography had anti-inflammatory effects in vitro.Mass spectrometry determined the content of two main cyclic dipeptide components,cyclo-(Pro-Phe)and cyclo-(Pro-Val),in the Fr.1 fraction.After mixing these two cyclic dipeptide components in the molar ratio in the Fr.1 fraction and administering them in vitro,the results showed that the combination of these two cyclic dipeptide components could significantly inhibit the mRNA expression levels of TNF-α,IL-1β,and IL-6 in RAW264.7 cells induced by LPS.CONCLUSION Cyclic dipeptide component is one of the main material basis categories for the anti-inflammatory effect of Pinelliae Rhizoma Praeparatum Cum Alumine.
9.Comparison on the treatment of proliferative diabetic retinopathy with ranibizumab and conbercept adjuvant for pars plana vitrectomy
Xinzhi SONG ; Yuxia FAN ; Xiangli WANG ; Ying WANG ; Xuemei ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Ocular Fundus Diseases 2025;41(1):15-20
Objective:To compare the outcomes of ranibizumab and conbercept adjunct for pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) in the treatment of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).Methods:A prospective randomized case-control study. From June 2022 to December 2023, 90 cases (90 eyes) of PDR patients diagnosed through ophthalmic examination at Department of Ophthalmology of Gansu Provincial Hospital were included in the study. All patients underwent the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure, B-mode ultrasound, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) examinations. The central macular thickness (CMT) was measured using an OCT instrument. The patients were randomly divided into a intravitreal injection of ranibizumab group (monoclonal-antibody group) and a intravitreal injection of conbercept group (fusion-protein group) using a random number table method, with 45 cases (45 eyes) in each group. Two groups of patients were intravitreal injected with 10 mg/ml ranibizumab or conbercept 0.05 ml, respectively. A standard 23G PPV was performed through the flat part of the ciliary body 3-7 days after intravitreal injection. Relevant examinations were performed using the same equipments and methods as before surgery at postoperative 1 week, 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. The PPV time, intraoperative use of intraocular electrocoagulation, incidence of iatrogenic retinal breaks, and sterile air or silicone oil tamponade rate in the vitreous cavity, the postoperative changes of BCVA and CMT, and incidence of complications were compared between two groups. Independent sample t test was used for inter group comparison. Results:The intraoperative utilization rate of intraocular electrocoagulation in the monoclonal-antibody group was higher than that in the fusion-protein group, and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=3.876, P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the PPV time ( t=0.152), intraoperative bleeding rate ( χ2=0.800), incidence of iatrogenic retinal breaks ( χ2=1.975), and sterile air and silicone oil tamponade rate in the vitreous cavity ( χ2=1.607, 1.553) between the two groups ( P>0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in early and late postoperative vitreous hemorrhage ( χ2=1.235, 2.355), and re-PPV ( χ2=2.355) between two groups ( P>0.05). The BCVA of the fusion-protein group was significantly better than that of the monoclonal-antibody group at postoperative 3 months, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=2.428, P<0.05). The CMT of the fusion-protein group was lower than that in the monoclonal-antibody group at postoperative 1 week, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=2.739, P<0.05). None of the patients experienced endophthalmitis, retinal artery occlusion, or severe cardiovascular events after surgery. Conclusion:Compared with intravitreal injection of ranibizumab before PPV, intravitreal injection of conbercept before PPV in PDR patients can shorten the surgical time, reduce intraoperative bleeding rate, lower the rate of electrocoagulation and intraocular tamponade, and incidence of iatrogenic retinal breaks, and improve the visual acuity.
10.Regulation of Alzheimer's Disease by Chinese Medicine Based on BDNF/TrkB Signaling Pathway: A Review
Liuping YUE ; Yongkang SUN ; Fangbiao XU ; Yanbo SONG ; Xinzhi WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(20):274-282
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the progressive loss of cognitive and memory functions. Its pathological features mainly include neurofibrillary tangles formed by the aggregation of hyperphosphorylated tau proteins and amyloid plaques formed by the accumulation of β-amyloid. The exact pathogenesis of AD has not been fully elucidated, and there are currently no effective specific drugs or radical treatments available in clinical practice. In recent years, the incidence of AD has been on the rise, severely affecting life and health, making the search for effective drugs and therapeutic components for AD treatment crucial. Modern medical research has found that the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)/tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) signaling pathway is closely related to neurogenesis, apoptosis, neuroinflammation, synaptic plasticity, and oxidative stress, playing a vital role in the pathophysiological development of AD. Additionally, Chinese medicine has a long history of treating neurodegenerative diseases with few adverse reactions and features a multi-target, multi-link, and multi-pathway approach to treatment. Therefore, the author reviewed the latest research reports in China and abroad to elaborate on the role of the BDNF/TrkB signaling pathway in the onset and progression of AD, and summarized the research progress on the regulation of the BDNF/TrkB pathway by Chinese medicine compounds and monomers in AD intervention. This study is expected to provide references for the development of clinical drugs for the prevention and treatment of AD and to broaden the perspective on Chinese medicine treatment of AD.

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