1.Discussion on the Role of Ferroptosis in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease from the Perspective of "Qi Deficiency with Retention and Stagnation"
Yuchen GAO ; Hongyu ZHU ; Heyue XIA ; Dian ZENG ; Cheng YANG ; Jiabing TONG ; Zegeng LI ; Qinjun YANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(11):1167-1172
Ferroptosis is a key driver of the onset and progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). By exploring the role of ferroptosis in COPD from the perspective of "qi deficiency with retention and stagnation", it is considered that mitochondrial dysfunction and imbalanced antioxidant defenses are the microscopic manifestations of "qi deficiency", whereas iron accumulation and lipid peroxide deposition constitute the pathological basis of "retention and stagnation". In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the treatment principle is tonifying deficiency and benefiting qi, scattering retention and unblocking stagnation. Its mechanism involves improving the antioxidant system and mitochondrial function to enhance cellular resistance to ferroptosis, as well as relieving pulmonary iron overload, excessive lipid peroxidation, and inflammatory factor release to reduce the accumulation of pathological products, thereby exerting therapeutic effects on COPD.
2.Peripheral Immune Response Patterns Under Vital Qi-Strengthening and Toxin-Eliminating Therapy and Their Value in Assessing Vital Qi Deficiency in Lung Cancer Metastasis: A Group-Based Trajectory Modeling
Fan XU ; Jianhui TIAN ; Yuan YAO ; Zhenyang CHENG ; Yanhong WANG ; Bin LUO ; Jialiang YAO ; Wang YAO ; Xinyi LU ; Yuchen BAO ; Xiaoyu YANG ; Youjun LIU ; Yiyang ZHOU ; Jianchun WU ; Minghua LI ; Wenfei SHI ; Yajing CUI ; Qingzhong LIU ; Yan LI ; Yun YANG
Cancer Research on Prevention and Treatment 2026;53(9):711-717
Objective On the basis of the theory of the tumor metastatic state, this work aims to explore the metastasis trajectories and peripheral immune response patterns in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) receiving vital qi-strengthening and toxin-eliminating therapy (Fuzheng Juandu) and reveal the value of peripheral immunity in assessing vital qi deficiency during metastasis. Methods A retrospective study design was adopted. Patients with NSCLC admitted from January 1, 2018, to October 31, 2025 were enrolled. Data on metastasis status and peripheral immune indices were collected at the follow-up time points of one, two, three, and five years. Group-based trajectory modeling was used to fit metastasis trajectories, and the independent predictors of trajectory grouping were analyzed through multifactor and multiclassification logistic regression. Results A total of 184 patients with NSCLC were included, and three different groups of metastasis trajectories were identified, namely, the low-risk stable (46.74%, n=86), low-risk rising (13.59%, n=25), and high-risk stable (39.67%, n=73) groups. Univariate analysis revealed substantial differences in peripheral immune indices among the three trajectory groups. Multivariate analysis showed that TNM stage, absolute neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, absolute monocyte count, platelet volume, SAA:CRP ratio, and NLR were independent predictors of the low-risk rising group, whereas TNM stage, absolute monocyte count, basophil count, SII, and NLR were independent predictors of the high-risk stable group. Conclusion Under Fuzheng Juandu therapy, patients with NSCLC exhibit three distinct metastasis trajectories, each
3.HAN Mingxiang's Clinical Experience in Treating Lung Cancer Based on the Theory of "Deficiency-Phlegm-Stasis-Toxin"
Qinjun YANG ; Yuchen GAO ; Meng SUN ; Mengyao SHI ; Zhixiang CHEN ; Jiabing TONG ; Zegeng LI ;
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(20):2166-2172
This article summarizes Professor HAN Mingxiang's clinical experience in treating lung cancer based on the theory of "deficiency-phlegm-stasis-toxin". It is believed that depletion of healthy qi, together with binding of phlegm and stasis forming into toxin is the core pathogenesis of lung cancer occurrence and development. In clinical practice, the core treatment principle should be reinforcing healthy qi, resolving phlegm, removing stasis, and relieving toxins. The treatment should be given based on syndrome differentiation. For the syndrome of lung-spleen qi deficiency, the self-formulated Jianpi Huatan Zhike Decoction (健脾化痰止咳汤) can be applied to fortify the spleen and replenish qi, thereby reinforcing healthy qi. For the syndrome of deficiency of both qi and yin, the self-formulated Shenmai Yuzhu Decoction (参麦玉竹汤) is used to nourish yin and moisten the lungs, thereby clearing the source. For the syndrome of phlegm-dampness accumulating in the lungs, the self-formulated Sizi Wenfei Decoction (四子温肺汤) is applied to warm the lungs and resolve phlegm, thereby diffusing the lung qi. For the syndrome of qi stagnation and blood stasis, the self-formulated Yiqi Zhuyu Decoction (益气逐瘀汤) is used to activate blood and resolve stasis, thereby unblocking the collaterals. For the syndrome of binding of phlegm and stasis, the self-formulated Jiejie Decoction (结节方) is utilized to resolve phlegm and remove stasis, thereby dissipating nodules. For the syndrome of lung deficiency with toxin accumulation, the self-formulated Qiyu Sanlong Decoction (芪玉三龙汤) is applied to reinforce healthy qi and remove toxins, thereby combating cancer. Medications are flexibly prescribed based on syndrome differentiation, with an emphasis on reinforcing healthy qi and eliminating pathogenic factors, and maintaining the balance of zang-fu (脏腑) organ functions as well as qi, blood, yin and yang.
4.Protective effect of Indigo Naturalis on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in mice
Yuchen GUO ; Junchi LI ; Guoling YANG ; Yuefan ZHANG ; Tiejun LI ; Lili SUN
Journal of Pharmaceutical Practice and Service 2026;44(10):508-514
Objective To investigate the protective effect of Indigo Naturalis on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in mice. Methods The mouse model of middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) was established using the filament ligation method. Mice were randomly divided into five groups: sham surgery, model, positive drug control, low-dose Indigo Naturalis, and high-dose Indigo Naturalis. After 7 d of drug administration, the relevant experiments were performed. Neurological function was assessed via behavioral scoring, balance beam test, forelimb grip strength, and tail lift test. Brain infarct volume was quantified using 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining. Histopathological changes and neuronal apoptosis were systematically analyzed through hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, Nissl staining, and TUNEL staining. Finally, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was employed to detect mRNA expression levels of inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and microglial polarization markers (CD32, CD206) in the mouse cerebral cortex. Results Compared with the model group, the neurological function scores of mice in the high-dose Indigo Naturalis group showed significant improvement, and the motor ability recovery in each drug-administration group was remarkable (P<0.05, P<0.01). The cerebral infarct volume in the high-dose Indigo Naturalis group was significantly reduced (P<0.05). Histological results revealed that Indigo Naturalis could alleviate pathological damage in brain tissue and reduce neuronal apoptosis (P<0.01). PCR results demonstrated that after treatment with Indigo Naturalis, the expression of inflammatory factors and CD32 was significantly downregulated (P<0.05, P<0.01), while the expression of CD206 was significantly upregulated (P<0.05). Conclusion Indigo Naturalis could improve motor function in mice with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury, and its effects might be related to regulating inflammatory responses and reducing neuronal damage.
5.Differentiation and Treatment of Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease Based on the Theory of "Combined Bi (痹) Syndrome of the Body and Zang (脏) Organs"
Xieli MA ; Quan JIANG ; Xun GONG ; Congmin XIA ; Chuanhui YAO ; Tian CHANG ; Zixia LIU ; Yuchen YANG ; Zhengyao SHEN
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(21):2286-2291
Based on the theory of "combined bi (痹) syndrome of the body and zang (脏)organs", this paper elucidates the pathogenic transmission and treatment principles of systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD). For the pattern in which the disease transmits from the body to the zang organs, the underlying pathogenesis is blood deficiency and liver constraint with cold congealing in the collaterals. The treatment principle is to nourish the blood and warm the channels, diffuse the lung and defend against pathogenic factors, so as to interrupt the inward transmission of the disease. For the pattern in which the disease transmits from the zang organs to the body, the pathogenesis may involve lung deficiency with insecurity of the exterior, liver fire attacking the lung and scorching the collaterals, or latent pathogens of phlegm and blood stasis permeating outward. The treatment principle is to tonify the lung and secure the exterior, clear the liver and purge the lung, and resolve blood stasis and unblock the collaterals, so that when the zang organs are restored, the body can be nourished. For the pattern in which the body and zang organs are simultaneously affected, the pathogenesis lies in violent toxin pathogens spreading throughout the three jiao (焦) and damaging both the body and zang organs. The treatment principle is to cool the blood and resolve toxins, resolve blood stasis and unblock the collaterals, thereby eliminating pathogenic factors from both the interior and exterior. Emphasis is placed on simultaneous treatment of the body and zang organs and dynamic syndrome differentiation and treatment, providing a new approach to understanding the pathogenesis of SSc-ILD in traditional Chinese medicine and to its stratified treatment.
6.Study on the construction of TCM science popularization system in Malaysia
International Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;47(8):1055-1058
Against the backdrop of "the Belt and Road" Initiative, this study systematically analyzed the current status of TCM development in Malaysia, focusing on policies and regulations, education and training, scientific research, and herbal trade, with the aim of constructing a localized science popularization system. The research revealed that Malaysia has established a multi-dimensional framework of "policy support-institutional implementation-dissemination with multiple platform", achieving progress in education, research, and trade. However, challenges such as insufficient public awareness, cross-cultural communication barriers, lack of interdisciplinary talents, and underutilization of new media still constrain its development. Based on these issues, this article proposed solutions including accurately dividing the audience, building a professional science popularization team, creating localized science popularization themes, and constructing a full media matrix, intending to provide practical references for the international dissemination of TCM and the construction of the "Healthy Silk Road" in Southeast Asian countries by building a systematic system for popularizing TCM.
7.A Brief Analysis of Li Fei's Experience in Treating Intractable Facial Paralysis with Combined Therapies
Zhenfeng ZHANG ; Qiqi YANG ; Chunning LI ; Liang BAO ; Zhenggang LU ; Yuchen MA ; Cuizhen DUAN ; Fei LI
Journal of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;42(8):1977-1983
This paper summarizes Li Fei's academic insights and clinical experience in treating intractable facial paralysis.Li Fei posits that prolonged illness inevitably leads to deficiency and stasis,and thus,the treatment of intractable facial paralysis should first focus on identifying the etiology and syndrome differentiation,resolving stasis and unblocking stagnation,and regulating qi and blood,with particular emphasis on the relaxation of the meridian sinew system.The meridian sinew system,affiliated with the meridian and collateral,serves as the framework through which qi and blood nourish muscles,tendons,and joints,playing a crucial role in facial paralysis treatment.Guided by the theory of the meridian sinew system,Li Fei employs syndrome-based treatment,integrating the anatomy of facial expression muscles.His approach includes needle-knife therapy to release adhesions and break stasis,acupuncture to harmonize qi and blood,and intradermal needle therapy for sustained stimulation.Through these methods,the meridian sinew system is relaxed,qi and blood are regulated,and facial muscles are nourished,leading to gradual recovery from facial paralysis.
8.Complex associations among modifiable determinants of circadian syndrome among employed people in southwestern China.
Shujuan YANG ; Peng JIA ; Lei ZHANG ; Yuchen LI ; Peng YU ; Jiqi YANG ; Sihan WANG ; Honglian ZENG ; Bo YANG ; Bin YU
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(21):2804-2812
BACKGROUND:
Circadian syndrome (CircS) may be closely linked to lifestyle, psychological, and occupational factors, but evidence is lacking. This study aimed to explore complex associations between lifestyle, psychological and occupational factors and CircS among employed people in southwestern China.
METHODS:
In this study, network analysis was used to identify complex associations between lifestyle, psychological and occupational factors and CircS in employed people from the Chinese Cohort of Working Adults (CCWA). The centrality of each variable was estimated by strength centrality index, which was calculated by the sum of edge weights connected to the variable. Bridge in the network was identified as the variables in the top 80 th percentile of overall bridge strength, which was defined as the most strongly connected variables across lifestyle, psychological and occupational factors and CircS. The differences were assessed in network structures between subgroups divided by the median score of the variable with the strongest bridge strengthen.
RESULTS:
Among 31,105 participants from CCWA, 5213 (16.76%) had CircS. In the constructed network, anxiety (edge weights: 0.28), smoking (edge weights: 0.15), drinking (edge weights: 0.10), perceived noise at work (edge weights: 0.08), and implicit health attitude (edge weights: -0.02) were directly related to CircS, with 83.31% of the variance for CircS explained by these neighboring factors. Anxiety was the most central variable (strength centrality: 1.20) in the network and the strongest bridge (bridge strength: 0.84) connecting all domains of variables. A stronger association between anxiety and CircS was observed in the network of participants with more severe anxiety (edge weight: 0.23) than those with less severe anxiety (edge weight: 0.03).
CONCLUSION
Anxiety had the strongest association with CircS and was the central factor with the highest strength centrality, also the bridge with the highest bridge strength in the network.
Humans
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Male
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Female
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Adult
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China
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Middle Aged
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Life Style
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Chronobiology Disorders/epidemiology*
9.Correlation Between Cardiovascular Events and Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis:A Cross-Sectional Study
Fuyuan ZHANG ; Quan JIANG ; Jun LI ; Yuchen YANG ; Xieli MA ; Tian CHANG ; Congmin XIA ; Jian WANG ; Xun GONG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(15):1572-1578
ObjectiveTo explore the correlation between the occurrence of cardiovascular events in rheumatoid arthritis(RA) and traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) syndrome. MethodsThe cross-sectional study selected 6713 RA patients from 122 centres nationwide, in which general information such as name, gender, age, height, body weight, and course of disease were collected by completing a questionnaire; patients were classified into eight types of syndrome according to the information of their four examinations,i.e. wind-dampness obstruction syndrome, cold-dampness obstruction syndrome, dampness-heat obstruction syndrome, phlegm-stasis obstruction syndrome, stasis-blood obstructing collateral syndrome, qi-blood deficiency syndrome, liver-kidney insufficiency syndrome, and qi-yin deficiency syndrome. According to the occurrence of cardiovascular events, they were divided into the occurrence group and the non-occurrence group, and the condition assessment data and laboratory examination indexes were recorded. The test of difference between groups was used to analyse the possible risk factors for the occurrence of RA cardiovascular events, and binary logistic regression was used to analyse the correlation between TCM syndromes and RA cardiovascular events. ResultsA total of 6713 RA patients were included, including 256 cases in occurrence group and 6457 in non-occurrence group. There was no statistically significant difference between groups in terms of height, gender, insomnia, appetite, white blood cell(WBC), hemoglobin(HGB), platelets(PLT), rheumatoid factor(RF), anti-cyclic peptide containing citrulline(CCP), alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase(AST), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase(GGT), urea creatinine(CREA), and glucose(GLU)(P>0.05). The TCM syndromes between groups showed significant statistic differences(P<0.05). Patients in occurrence group had longer disease duration, heavier body weight, and older age; more severe conditions such as disease activity(DAS-28), number of painful joints(TJC), number of swollen joints(SJC), health questionnaire scores(HAQ), visual analog scores(VAS), restlessness, and fatigue; higher blood sedimentation rate(ESR), low-density lipoprotein(LDL-C), triglyceride(TG), total cholesterol(TC), D-Dimer, and lower high-density lipoprotein(HDL-C)(P<0.05). The distribution of syndrome types showed that dampness-heat obstruction syndrome accounted for the largest proportion of patients in both groups and was higher in RA cardiovascular events. Logistic regression analysis showed that the occurrence of RA cardiovascular events was strongly associated with dampness-heat obstruction syndrome[OR=5.937, 95%CI (4.434, 7.949), P<0.001]. ConclusionThe occurrence of RA cardiovascular events were associated with TCM syndromes, and the probability of cardiovascular events in the RA patients with dampness-heat obstruction syndrome was 5.937 times higher than patients with other TCM syndromes.
10.Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Approaches of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Secondary Gynecological and Obstetric Diseases Based on the Theory of "Bi (痹) of both Body and Viscera"
Hui XU ; Quan JIANG ; Congmin XIA ; Rouman ZHANG ; Xun GONG ; Chuanhui YAO ; Zixia LIU ; Yuchen YANG ; Xieli MA
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(23):2438-2442
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) may lead to secondary gynecological and obstetric disorders such as decreased ovarian reserve function, menstrual abnormalities, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Based on "bi (痹) of both body and viscera" theory, this paper proposed that the core mechanism of SLE secondary gynecological and obstetric diseases lies in the mutual transformation between "body bi" and "viscera bi", which together affect the uterus. Physiologically, uterus forms an internal-external network with the body and viscera through the meridians and blood vessels. Pathologically, when the healthy qi is deficient, nourishment of the body and viscera is impaired; when toxins and stasis accumulate, pathogenic factors disturb the uterus through the chong (冲) and ren (任) meri-dians. The resulting obstruction in the uterus can, in turn, manifest externally and aggravate damage to the body and viscera. Therefore, the pathogenesis of SLE secondary gynecological and obstetric diseases follows a dynamic trajectory of "body bi first, body bi affecting viscera, and then bi of both body and viscera". In treatment, the principle of harmonizing and balancing the healthy qi is emphasized. The main approach is to regulate the viscera, stabilize the body, and nourish the uterus, with the coordination of nourishing the viscera through the body, thereby achieving simultaneous treatment of both body and viscera. This highlights the guiding significance of the "bi of both body and viscera" theory in preventing and treating SLE secondary gynecological and obstetric diseases.

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