Diabetic kidney disease （DKD）， a prevalent microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus， is characterized by intricate pathophysiological mechanisms and persistent clinical management challenges. Historically， glomerular injury has been regarded as the central pathological hallmark of DKD， with research predominantly focusing on hyperfiltration， glomerular basement membrane thickening， and podocyte dysfunction. Emerging evidence， however， underscores the renal tubule-not merely as a passive bystander but as an early initiator and pivotal driver-in DKD pathogenesis. Hyperglycemia， metabolic dysregulation， and chronic low-grade inflammation induce tubular epithelial cell injury at early disease stages. Such injury disrupts tubuloglomerular feedback， thereby elevating intraglomerular pressure and sustaining hyperfiltration. Concurrently， injured tubular cells secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines and profibrotic factors， promoting epithelia-mesenchymal transition， interstitial hypoxia， and progressive tubulointerstitial fibrosis that ultimately culminate in irreversible decline of renal function. This "tubule-first" paradigm represents a fundamental shift from the classical glomerulocentric model and redefines the conceptual framework of DKD progression. Traditional Chinese medicine（TCM）， with its inherent advantages of multi-component synergy， multi-target engagement， and systemic homeostatic regulation， has demonstrated compelling renoprotective effect， particularly in preserving tubular integrity and function， mitigating tubular cellular stress， and indirectly alleviating glomerular hemodynamic burden. Accumulating preclinical and clinical evidence supports the efficacy of numerous single herbs and standardized formulae of TCM in attenuating tubulointerstitial injury and slowing down DKD progression. This review systematically delineates the sequential pathogenic cascade-from initial tubular insult to secondary glomerular deterioration-and critically evaluates the mechanism basis and translational potential of TCM-based interventions targeting tubular resilience. We aim to provide a refined pathophysiological rationale and actionable insights for optimizing clinical strategies and accelerating the development of novel therapeutics for DKD.

Diabetic kidney disease （DKD）， a prevalent microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus， is characterized by intricate pathophysiological mechanisms and persistent clinical management challenges. Historically， glomerular injury has been regarded as the central pathological hallmark of DKD， with research predominantly focusing on hyperfiltration， glomerular basement membrane thickening， and podocyte dysfunction. Emerging evidence， however， underscores the renal tubule-not merely as a passive bystander but as an early initiator and pivotal driver-in DKD pathogenesis. Hyperglycemia， metabolic dysregulation， and chronic low-grade inflammation induce tubular epithelial cell injury at early disease stages. Such injury disrupts tubuloglomerular feedback， thereby elevating intraglomerular pressure and sustaining hyperfiltration. Concurrently， injured tubular cells secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines and profibrotic factors， promoting epithelia-mesenchymal transition， interstitial hypoxia， and progressive tubulointerstitial fibrosis that ultimately culminate in irreversible decline of renal function. This "tubule-first" paradigm represents a fundamental shift from the classical glomerulocentric model and redefines the conceptual framework of DKD progression. Traditional Chinese medicine（TCM）， with its inherent advantages of multi-component synergy， multi-target engagement， and systemic homeostatic regulation， has demonstrated compelling renoprotective effect， particularly in preserving tubular integrity and function， mitigating tubular cellular stress， and indirectly alleviating glomerular hemodynamic burden. Accumulating preclinical and clinical evidence supports the efficacy of numerous single herbs and standardized formulae of TCM in attenuating tubulointerstitial injury and slowing down DKD progression. This review systematically delineates the sequential pathogenic cascade-from initial tubular insult to secondary glomerular deterioration-and critically evaluates the mechanism basis and translational potential of TCM-based interventions targeting tubular resilience. We aim to provide a refined pathophysiological rationale and actionable insights for optimizing clinical strategies and accelerating the development of novel therapeutics for DKD.

BACKGROUND: The available evidence regarding the benefits of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on patients receiving dialysis with coronary artery disease (CAD) is limited and inconsistent. This study aimed to evaluate the association between PCI and clinical outcomes as compared with medical therapy alone in patients undergoing dialysis with CAD in China. METHODS: This multicenter, retrospective study was conducted in 30 tertiary medical centers across 12 provinces in China from January 2015 to June 2021 to include patients on dialysis with CAD. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), defined as a composite of cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and non-fatal stroke. Secondary outcomes included all-cause death, the individual components of MACE, and Bleeding Academic Research Consortium criteria types 2, 3, or 5 bleeding. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess the association between PCI and outcomes. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) and propensity score matching (PSM) were performed to account for potential between-group differences. RESULTS: Of the 1146 patients on dialysis with significant CAD, 821 (71.6%) underwent PCI. After a median follow-up of 23.0 months, PCI was associated with a 43.0% significantly lower risk for MACE (33.9% [ n  = 278] vs . 43.7% [ n  = 142]; adjusted hazards ratio 0.57, 95% confidence interval 0.45-0.71), along with a slightly increased risk for bleeding outcomes that did not reach statistical significance (11.1% vs . 8.3%; adjusted hazards ratio 1.31, 95% confidence interval, 0.82-2.11). Furthermore, PCI was associated with a significant reduction in all-cause and cardiovascular mortalities. Subgroup analysis did not modify the association of PCI with patient outcomes. These primary findings were consistent across IPTW, PSM, and competing risk analyses. CONCLUSION This study indicated that PCI in patients on dialysis with CAD was significantly associated with lower MACE and mortality when comparing with those with medical therapy alone, albeit with a slightly increased risk for bleeding events that did not reach statistical significance.
Humans ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention/methods* ; Male ; Female ; Coronary Artery Disease/drug therapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Renal Dialysis/methods* ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; China ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Treatment Outcome

This study aims to explore the role and mechanism of berberine in promoting the expression of aquaporin 4(AQP4) in astrocytes by regulating the expression of miR-383-5p in HepG2 cell-derived exosomes under insulin resistance(IR). The IR-HepG2 cell model was established with 1×10~(-6) mol·L~(-1) insulin. With metformin as the positive control, the safe concentrations of berberine and metformin were screened by cell counting kit-8(CCK-8) and lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) leakage assays, and the effect of berberine on the IR of HepG2 cells was evaluated by glucose consumption. NanoSight was used to measure the particle size and concentration of exosomes secreted by HepG2 cells in each group. HepG2 cell-derived exosomes in each group were incubated with astrocytes for 24 h, and the protein and mRNA levels of AQP4 in HA1800 cells were determined by Western blot and qRT-PCR, respectively. qRT-PCR was performed to determine the expression of miR-383-5p in HepG2 cell-derived exosomes and HA1800 cells after co-incubation. Western blotting was employed to determine the expression levels of miRNAs and proteins associated with exosome production and release in HepG2 cells. The results showed that 10 μmol·L~(-1) berberine and 1 mmol·L~(-1) metformin significantly alleviated the IR of HepG2 cells and reduced the concentration of exosomes in HepG2 cells. The exosomes of HepG2 cells treated with berberine and metformin significantly up-regulated the protein and mRNA levels of AQP4 in HA1800 cells. The mRNA level of miR-383-5p in HepG2 cell exosomes and HA1800 cells co-incubated with berberine and metformin decreased significantly. The intervention with berberine and metformin significantly down-regulated the expression of proteins associated with the production of miRNAs(Dicer, Drosha) as well as the production(Alix, Vps4A) and release(Rab35, VAMP3) of exosomes in IR-HepG2 cells. In conclusion, berberine can promote the expression of AQP4 in astrocytes by inhibiting the production and release of miR-383-5p in HepG2-derived exosomes under IR.
Humans ; MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Berberine/pharmacology* ; Hep G2 Cells ; Exosomes/genetics* ; Aquaporin 4/metabolism* ; Insulin Resistance ; Astrocytes/drug effects*

Diabetic encephalopathy(DE)is a complication of the central nervous system induced by diabetes,characterized by insidious onset and complex pathological mechanisms.Recent research has revealed that the pathological mechanisms of DE are closely associated with the imbalance of intercellular communica-tion across multiple organs.Exosomes,serving as vital media-tors of intercellular communication,are involved in the patholog-ical progression of DE and hold promise as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for DE.Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)can improve communication between brain cells and be-tween peripheral and brain tissues by regulating exosomes and their contents,thereby preventing and treating DE.Meanwhile,exosomes,as targeted delivery carriers of active molecules,can carry TCM monomers more easily across the blood-brain barrier to prevent and treat DE.In light of this,this review summarizes the regulatory role of exosomes in the pathological progression of DE and explores the enormous potential of TCM in the preven-tion and treatment of DE by regulating exosomes and using exo-somes as traditional Chinese medicine carriers,aiming to pro-vide new evidence for the prevention and treatment of DE with TCM.

The glymphatic system(GS)is a unique toxic sub-stance clearance system in brain,which is very important for maintaining the microenvironment stability of the central nervous system.The polarization distribution of aquaporin 4(AQP4)lo-cated in the terminal foot of astrocytes affects the function of GS and participates in the pathological progress of many neurodegen-erative diseases,but the detailed regulation mechanism of AQP4 polarization distribution has not been systematically summarized.Therefore,this paper systematically combs the mechanism of reg-ulating the polarization distribution of AQP4 from the perspective of the composition integrity of dystrophin-glycoprotein complex(DGC)and basement membrane foot complex,and summarizes the potential drug and non-drug therapies for targeted regulation of AQP4 polarization distribution at present,aiming at providing new target reference and theoretical basis for targeted regulation of AQP4 polarization to prevent and treat neurodegenerative dis-eases.

Diabetic encephalopathy(DE)is a complication of the central nervous system induced by diabetes,characterized by insidious onset and complex pathological mechanisms.Recent research has revealed that the pathological mechanisms of DE are closely associated with the imbalance of intercellular communica-tion across multiple organs.Exosomes,serving as vital media-tors of intercellular communication,are involved in the patholog-ical progression of DE and hold promise as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for DE.Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)can improve communication between brain cells and be-tween peripheral and brain tissues by regulating exosomes and their contents,thereby preventing and treating DE.Meanwhile,exosomes,as targeted delivery carriers of active molecules,can carry TCM monomers more easily across the blood-brain barrier to prevent and treat DE.In light of this,this review summarizes the regulatory role of exosomes in the pathological progression of DE and explores the enormous potential of TCM in the preven-tion and treatment of DE by regulating exosomes and using exo-somes as traditional Chinese medicine carriers,aiming to pro-vide new evidence for the prevention and treatment of DE with TCM.

The glymphatic system(GS)is a unique toxic sub-stance clearance system in brain,which is very important for maintaining the microenvironment stability of the central nervous system.The polarization distribution of aquaporin 4(AQP4)lo-cated in the terminal foot of astrocytes affects the function of GS and participates in the pathological progress of many neurodegen-erative diseases,but the detailed regulation mechanism of AQP4 polarization distribution has not been systematically summarized.Therefore,this paper systematically combs the mechanism of reg-ulating the polarization distribution of AQP4 from the perspective of the composition integrity of dystrophin-glycoprotein complex(DGC)and basement membrane foot complex,and summarizes the potential drug and non-drug therapies for targeted regulation of AQP4 polarization distribution at present,aiming at providing new target reference and theoretical basis for targeted regulation of AQP4 polarization to prevent and treat neurodegenerative dis-eases.

Objective:To examine the effects of Zishenwan Prescription on bile acid metabolism in mice with diabetic encephalopathy; To explore its mechanism of improvement of diabetic encephalopathy.Methods:Male C57BL/6J mice were used to replicate the mouse model of type 2 diabetes mellitus by using high-fat chow and a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (120 mg/kg). The mice were screened for diabetic encephalopathy by using the Morris water maze test after 8 weeks of continuous stimulation with hyperglycemia, and were divided into model group and Zishenwan Prescription group according to random number table method, with 12 mice in each group. The mice in the Zishenwan Prescription group were treated with the crude extract of Zishenwan Prescription (9.36 g/kg) by gavage, and the normal group and the model group were treated with the same volume of distilled water once a day for 8 weeks. At the end of the treatment, Morris water maze test was used to investigate the cognitive function of diabetic encephalopathy mice; cresyl violet staining was used to detect the number of granule neurons in the hippocampus; serum and feces were collected to detect the content of bile acids by liquid-liquid coupling; hepatic bile acid synthase CYP7a1 and CYP27a1, farnesol X receptor (FXR), fibroblast growth factor 15 (FGF15), fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4), and ileocecal apical sodium-dependent bile acid transporter protein (ABST) mRNA levels were detected by using fluorescence quantitative PCR assay.Results:Compared with the model group, mice in the Zishenwan Prescription group had shorter evasion latency time ( P<0.05 or P<0.01), decreased time to first reach the platform ( P<0.01), increased number of times to traverse the platform ( P<0.01), and reduced neuronal cell damage in hippocampal area; mice in the Zishenwan Prescription group showed decreased serum and fecal total bile acid content ( P<0.05 or P<0.01); the liver CYP7a1 and CYP27a1 mRNA expressions increased ( P<0.01), and FXR and FGF15 mRNA expressions decreased ( P<0.01); ileal ABST mRNA expression decreased ( P<0.01). Conclusion:Zishenwan Prescription may regulate bile acid metabolism, inhibit FRX-FGF15/FGFR4 signaling and ABST expression to promote new bile acid synthesis and conjugated bile acid reabsorption, and thus improve cognitive function in diabetic encephalopathy mice.