1.Discussion of sequential diagnosis and treatment model of diabetes mellitus of spatiotemporal syndrome differentiation from the perspective of qi, blood, and fluid
Jinhao HU ; Guiyan SUN ; Yufeng YANG ; Yan SHI
Journal of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;48(1):8-13
The dysfunction of qi, blood, and fluid underlies the pathology of diabetes mellitus. The symptoms, signs, and physical and chemical indexes of diabetes mellitus patients reflect the duration, degree, primary and secondary pathological state of the abnormal metabolism of qi, blood, and fluid. It is necessary to construct a three-dimensional syndrome differentiation system of diabetes mellitus based on spatial and temporal dimensions. According to the four stages of depression, heat, deficiency, and damage, the location of the disease can be locked into qi, ying, and blood levels. The process reflects the pathological trend of the abnormal metabolism of qi, blood, and fluid: qi depression (prodromal stage: asymptomatic metabolic disorder/early stage of qi level) → qi heat (initial stage: index stage/late stage of qi level) → deficiency of both qi and yin (middle stage: symptom stage of three more and one less/stage of ying level) → damage of zang-fu viscera and meridians (late stage: complication stage/stage of blood level). According to the time process, the treatment principles are proposed as follows: during the early stage of qi level, treatment should focus on strengthening the spleen to regulate qi flow, to prevent the accumulation of glucose; during the late stage of qi level, treatment should focus on clearing heat and resolving turbidity, to remove the stagnated heat caused by glucose; during the stage of ying level, treatment should focus on benefiting qi and nourishing yin, to improve the symptoms about deficiency of both qi and yin; during the stage of blood level, treatment should focus on promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, to remove the complication. According to the etiology and pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus, the sequential treatment strategy is thus proposed, which is strengthening the spleen to regulate qi flow, clearing heat and resolving turbidity, benefiting qi and nourishing yin, and promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis. The compound prescriptions such as Houpo Sanwu Decoction, Baihu Jia Renshen Decoction, Danggui Liuhuang Decoction, and Taohong Siwu Decoction are used with modification in the stage-based treatment.
2.Role of Macrophage Activation and Polarization in Diabetes Mellitus and Its Related Complications and Traditional Chinese Medicine Intervention
Zhichao CHEN ; Qiaoni LIN ; Liya SUN ; Jinxi WANG ; Zishan FU ; Yufeng YANG ; Yan SHI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(6):311-320
The occurrence of diabetes mellitus (DM) is closely related to insulin resistance and islet β cell dysfunction. Modern studies have found that macrophages are widely present in the liver,fat,skeletal muscle,islets, and other tissues and organs. Macrophage M1/M2 polarization plays an important role in the occurrence and development of diabetes mellitus and its related complications by intervening in inflammatory response,improving insulin resistance,and promoting tissue repair. Most of the traditional Chinese medicines that regulate the activation and polarization of macrophages are Qi-replenishing and Yin-nourishing,heat-clearing, and detoxicating medicinal,which are consistent with the etiology and pathogenesis of diabetes and its related complications. Therefore,by summarizing the mechanisms between macrophage activation,polarization, and insulin resistance in various tissues,this paper reviewed traditional Chinese medicine and its effective components and compounds in improving diabetes mellitus and its related complications through multi-channel regulation of macrophage polarization and regulation of M1/M2 ratio,providing references for the future treatment of DM and its related complications with traditional Chinese medicine.
3.Experience in the Application of Jiao (角) Medicine in Treating Diabetes Mellitus from the Perspective of Qi, Blood and Fluids
Jinhao HU ; Guiyan SUN ; He GAO ; Yufeng YANG ; Nan HU ; Yan SHI
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(16):1727-1730
This paper summarizes the clinical experience in applying jiao (角) medicine to treat diabetes mellitus from the perspective of qi, blood, and fluids. It is believed that impaired spleen transportation and transformation is the key pathomechanism of diabetes, leading to metabolic disturbances in qi, blood, and fluids, and resulting in a sequential pathological progression of "qi → thick fluids → thin fluids → blood". At the qi level, the disease is mainly characterized by spleen qi deficiency and stagnation, and is commonly treated with Hongshen (Panax Ginseng), Huangqi (Astragalus Mongholicus), and Baizhu (Atractylodes Macrocephala) to tonify the spleen and regulate qi. At the thick fluids level, the condition manifests as abdominal distension, internal heat, and turbid pathogens, requiring Zexie (Alisma Orientale), Huanglian (Coptis Chinensis), and Dahuang (Rheum Palmatum) to clear the spleen and drain turbidity. At the thin fluids level, with qi and yin deficiency and predominant yin damage, Gegen (Pueraria Lobata), Wuweizi (Schisandra Chinensis), and Maidong (Ophiopogon Japonicus) are used to nourish yin and generate fluids. At the blood level, where vascular damage is predominant, Shuizhifen (Whitmania Pigra Powder), Danshen (Salvia Miltiorrhiza), and Sanqifen (Panax Notoginseng Powder) are applied to activate blood circulation, resolve stasis, and unblock the channels. Clinicians may flexibly select appropriate jiao medicine based on the specific pathological layer affected in each patient.
4.Mechanism Investigation of Qi-invigorating and Blood-activating Drug Combination in Yitangkang Compound Against Diabetic Cardiomyopathy Using Multimodal Research Approach
Chenghao YU ; Tingting LI ; Mingbo ZHANG ; Honghe XIAO ; Yufeng YANG ; Yan SHI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(24):94-106
ObjectiveThrough multimodal research methods including medication rule mining, network pharmacology, molecular docking and dynamics simulation, and in vivo animal experiments, this study aims to speculate and verify the core composition (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma Rubra-Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma-Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma) and efficacy (Qi-invigorating and blood-activating) of the drug combination in Yitangkang Compound for improving diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM), investigate the interaction relationship and binding strength between core active ingredients of the drug combination and key signaling pathway targets, and further explore the mechanism by which the Qi-invigorating and blood-activating drug combination regulates the calcium signaling pathway to improve cardiac function in DCM rats. MethodsThe Ancient and Modern Medical Cases Cloud Platform was used to construct a DCM prescription database, and the "Analysis Method" module of the platform was applied to mine and summarize medication rules, thereby determining the core composition of the Qi-invigorating and blood-activating drug combination in Yitangkang. Drug-active ingredient-signaling pathway-core target-disease analysis and visualization were conducted by combining network pharmacology with the Traditional Chinese Medicine System Pharmacology Platform (TCMSP) database, SwissTargetPrediction platform, GeneCards database, MetaScape database, CytoScape software, etc. Then, molecular docking was performed via the CB-Dock2 platform, and molecular dynamics simulation of the high-binding-strength docking complexes was carried out by Gromacs software. Finally, in vivo animal experiments were carried out. Twenty-eight Sprague Dawley (SD) rats meeting the research criteria were divided into a normal group, a model group, a drug combination group (3.3 g·kg-1), and a Yitangkang group (20 g·kg-1). A type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) rat model was established by high-fat diet feeding combined with intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ), followed by continuous feeding for eight weeks until the DCM model was successfully established. During this period, the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) compound and drug combination were administered for prevention and treatment intervention. Meanwhile, changes in blood glucose, body weight, and heart index of each group were monitored. Cardiac function was assessed by echocardiography, and electrophysiological signals were detected by an electrocardiogram. The heart tissue was observed for pathological changes by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and Masson staining, and the expression of L-type calcium channel (CACNA1C), calmodulin (CALM1), calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase Ⅱδ (CAMK2D), and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (NOS1) proteins in the calcium signaling pathway of myocardial tissue was detected by Western blot. ResultsIn 62 DCM prescriptions, Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma Rubra, Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, and Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma were used most frequently. Their meridian tropism mainly involved the spleen, heart, and lung, and their sweet and warm properties were prominent. The drugs for tonifying or blood-activating and stasis-resolving ranked top. In association rule analysis, (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma Rubra, Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma)-Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma had the highest lift. Network pharmacology obtained 75 active ingredients of the drug combination, 714 drug combination action targets, 2 702 disease targets, and 286 intersection targets. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network predicted nine interaction component-targets (nine active ingredients and four calcium signaling pathway target genes). Molecular docking showed the four complexes with the lowest binding energy were 2f3z-ginsenoside Re, 1cll-quercetin, 9blh-(6S)-6-(hydroxymethyl)-1,6-dimethyl-8,9-dihydro-7H-naphtho[8,7-g]benzofuran-10,11-dione, and 5vv0-miltionone Ⅱ. Dynamics simulation showed the CALM1-quercetin complex had the strongest binding affinity. The animal experiment results revealed that compared with the normal group, the model group showed significant changes in blood glucose, body weight, myocardial tissue morphology, heart index, cardiac function, electrophysiological indexes, and the expression levels of CACNA1C, CALM1, CAMK2D, and NOS1 proteins (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the Yitangkang group had a certain improvement effect on the above indexes (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the Yitangkang group, the drug combination group showed no significant difference in improving myocardial tissue morphology, heart index, cardiac function, electrophysiological indexes, and the expression of CACNA1C, CALM1, CAMK2D, and NOS1 proteins, except for blood glucose and body weight. ConclusionGinseng Radix et Rhizoma Rubra, Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, and Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma are the core Qi-invigorating and blood-activating drug combination in Yitangkang Compound. They have a good preventive and therapeutic effect on STZ-induced DCM in rats, and their mechanism of action may be related to the regulation of the calcium signaling pathway.
5.Application and evaluation of the S-PC model based on competency in orthopedic clinical internship teaching
Shuai HUANG ; Jijie LI ; Xitao LINGHU ; Yan HUANG ; Yufeng DENG ; Ye CHEN
Modern Hospital 2024;24(10):1627-1631
Objective To explore the effectiveness of a PBL-CBL teaching model oriented towards competency evaluation after the introduction of standardized patients in orthopedic clinical internship teaching.Methods Eighty-nine medical students undergoing orthopedic internships at our hospital from 2022 to 2023 were divided into an S-PC teaching group and a PC teaching group.Based on Milestones 2.0,a competency evaluation model for orthopedic interns was established,including six primary in-dicators:patient care,clinical knowledge and skills,interpersonal communication,and more.After the course,students were as-sessed according to the established model.Results The S-PC group showed statistically significant differences in scores for pa-tient care,clinical knowledge and skills,interpersonal communication,system-based practice,and practice-based learning com-pared to the PC group(P<0.05),with all scores in the S-PC group being higher than those in the PC group.Conclusion In-troducing standardized patients into the PBL-CBL teaching model in clinical education significantly enhances the competency of orthopedic interns.
6.Distribution of resistance genes and virulence genes in multidrug-resistant Salmonella typhimurium strains
Yufeng ZHANG ; He SONG ; Le YAN ; Pengfei XU ; Ruiqing LIU ; Tiantian TANG ; Xiaoyan WANG ; Huiling DENG ; Kairui LEI
Chinese Pediatric Emergency Medicine 2024;31(11):831-835
Objective:To study the distribution of drug resistance genes and virulence genes in multidrug-resistant Salmonella typhimurium strains.Methods:A total of 96 strains of Salmonella typhimurium were collected,and drug sensitivity tests were performed to evaluate the drug resistance and multidrug-resistance of Salmonella typhimurium.Multidrug-resistant Salmonella typhimurium strains were selected to conducted whole genome sequencing,and the distribution of drug resistance genes and virulence genes in the strain were analyzed.Results:Salmonella typhimurium strains had the highest resistance rates to ampicillin and ampicillin/sulbactam,with 89.58% and 76.04%,respectively.Followed by trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole,ceftriaxone,and aztreonam,with 47.92%,38.54% and 33.33%,respectively,and low resistance rates to ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin,with 8.33% and 4.17%,respectively.Ninety-six strains were all sensitive to carbapenem antibiotics and piperacillin/tazobactam.Fifty-seven strains(59.38%)of Salmonella typhimurium showed multidrug-resistance.Resistance genes were detected in all 57 multidrug-resistant Salmonella typhimurium strains,with higher carrier rates of 98.25%,77.19%,and 59.65% for aac(6')-Iaa,aadA22,and blaTEM-1B,respectively.The multidrug-resistant Salmonella typhimurium strains had the highest carrier rates for invA,sipA,sseL,and sopB.Conclusion:Multidrug-resistant Salmonella typhimurium strains have a high incidence and a high carrier rate for multiple drug resistance genes and virulence genes.The monitoring and prevention of Salmonella typhimurium should be strengthened in the clinic in order to reduce the spreading epidemic of multidrug-resistant strains.
7.Effects of Yitangkang on Neuroinflammation and Polarization of Microglia and Astrocytes in db/db Mice
Jiren AN ; Juntong LIU ; Zhi ZHANG ; Chi ZHANG ; Li WANG ; Yufeng YANG ; Yan SHI
Chinese Journal of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;31(6):80-87
Objective To observe the regulatory effects of Yitangkang on neuroinflammation and polarization of microglia and astrocytes in db/db mice;To explore the its mechanism in the treatment of cognitive impairment in diabetes.Methods Totally 32 db/db mice were randomly divided into model group,liraglutide group,and Yitangkang low-and high-dosage group.Another C57BL/6 mice were taken as blank group,with 8 mice in each group.Yitangkang low-and high-dosage group were given Yitangkang Decoction 15,30 g/kg respectively,the liraglutide group was intraperitoneally injected with liraglutide 200 μg/kg,the blank group and model group were given the same volume of distilled water by gavage,for 5 weeks.FJC staining was used to observe the damage of hippocampal neurons,ELISA was used to detect the content of IL-6 and IL-1β in hippocampal tissue,immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expressions of IL-6,IL-1β,Iba1 and GFAP in hippocampal tissue,the expressions of CD86,CD206,C3,S100A10,NLRP3,Iba1 and GFAP were detected by immunofluorescence,the protein expressions of CD86,CD206,C3,S100A10 and NLRP3 in hippocampal tissue were detected by Western blot.Results Compared with the blank group,the FJC positive cells in the model group significantly increased,and the contents of IL-6 and IL-1β significantly increased,the expressions of Iba1,CD86,GFAP and C3 significantly increased,CD206 and S100A10 expressions significantly decreased,NLRP3 protein expression and co-expression with Iba1 and GFAP significantly increased,with statistical significance(P<0.05,P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the FJC positive cells in hippocampal tissue of liraglutide group and Yitangkang low-and high-dosage group significantly decreased,the contents of IL-6 and IL-1β significantly decreased,the expressions of Iba1,CD86,GFAP and C3 significantly decreased,the expressions of CD206 and S100A10 significantly increased,the expression of NLRP3 protein and co-expression with Iba1 and GFAP were significantly decreased,the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05,P<0.01)except for CD206 in Yitangkang low-dosage group.Conclusion Yitangkang can effectively regulate the expression of NLRP3 in db/db mice,promote the transformation of microglia/astrocytes from M1/A1 type to M2/A2 type,inhibit the inflammatory response,and exert neuroprotective effects.
8.Effects of Yitangkang on Browning of White Adipose and PINK1/Parkin Pathway in db/db Mice
Hui ZHANG ; Liya SUN ; Qingfeng WANG ; Guiyan SUN ; Xinhui SHEN ; Jinhao HU ; Yan SHI ; Yufeng YANG
Chinese Journal of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;31(12):91-98
Objective To investigate the effects of Yitangkang on browning of white adipose and PINK1/Parkin pathway of mitophagy in adipose tissue of db/db mice.Methods Totally 30 six-week db/db mice were randomly divided into model group,Yitangkang Group(30 g/kg)and liraglutide group(200 μg/kg),and another 10 C57BL/6 mice of the same age were set as normal group.All groups were treated with corresponding drugs or normal saline for 5 weeks.During the period of administration,the body mass and fasting blood glucose(FBG)of mice in each group were detected regularly,the samples of liver,white and brown adipose of mice were weighed,the contents of serum triglyceride cholesterol(TC),triacylglycerol(TG),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C)and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C)were detected by biochemical analyzer,HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes of inguinal white adipose tissue(iWAT),immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of browning marker protein uncoupling protein-1(UCP1)in iWAT,Western blot was used to detect the expressions of browning-related proteins UCP1,PRDM16,PGC-1α and mitophagy-related proteins PINK1,Parkin,Beclin-1,p62 in iWAT.Results Compared with the normal group,the body mass,liver,white adipose and brown adipose mass of the model group significantly increased(P<0.01),the FBG and serum TG,TC and LDL-C contents significantly increased(P<0.01),and the content of HDL-C significantly decreased(P<0.01);large vacuoles in iWAT adipocytes,the diameter of adipocytes increased obviously,some adipocytes were extruded and deformed,and the edge of adipocytes was not clear,the expressions of iWAT UCP1,PRDM16,PGC-1α and p62 proteins decreased(P<0.01),while the expressions of PINK1,Parkin and Beclin-1 proteins increased(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the body mass,liver and white adipose mass significantly decreased in Yitangkang group and the liraglutide group(P<0.01),FBG and serum contents of TC,TG and LDL-C were significantly decreased(P<0.05,P<0.01),while HDL-C content significantly increased(P<0.01);the diameter of iWAT adipocytes decreased,the number increased,and the morphology was regular,the expressions of iWAT UCP1,PRDM16,PGC-1α and p62 proteins increased(P<0.01),while the expressions of PINK1,Parkin and Beclin-1 proteins decreased(P<0.05,P<0.01).Conclusion Yitangkang can improve glucose and lipid metabolism and promote browning of white adipose in db/db mice,which may be related to mitophagy mediated by PINK1/Parkin pathway.
9.Expression level and clinical significance of autophagy related genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with refractory moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis treated with abatacept
Qian HUANG ; Tao LI ; Yan XIE ; Zeng ZHANG ; Jianwei GUO ; Quanbo ZHANG ; Yufeng QING
Chinese Journal of Rheumatology 2024;28(11):796-802
Objective:To investigate and explore the clinical significance of the expression levels and differences of autophagy related genes ATG3, ATG5, ATG12, ATG16, LC3 and Beclin-1 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with refractory moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA), who were treated with abatacept.Methods:Peripheral blood samples of 30 patients admitted to the affiliated hospital of North Sichuan Medical College from June 2020 to June 2022 were collected before and after abatacept treatment. Autophagy associated genes were detected by RT-qPCR and, autophagy associated proteins were detected by Western Blot. Correlation analysis with clinical parameters was performed. SPSS26.0 and GraphPad Prism 9.0 were used for statistical analysis, Independent sample t-test was used for comparison between groups, and non-normal distribution data were expressed as M ( Q1, Q3), Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between variables, and P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results:①Compared with the mRNA expression levels of ATG12(0.007 6±0.005 9), ATG16(0.003 1±0.002 2) and LC3(0.038 2±0.017 1) before treatment, after 24 weeks treatment with abatacept, the mRNA expression levels of ATG12 (0.011 4±0.003 1) and ATG16 (0.004 2±0.000 7) increased ( t=-2.49, P=0.042; t=-2.15, P=0.038), and the mRNA expression level of LC3 (0.022 6±0.008 3) was decreased ( t=3.28, P=0.003) after 24 weeks of abatacept treatment.②After 24 weeks, the expression level of ATG16 mRNA in the remission group (0.004 8±0.000 8) was higher than that in the non-remission group (0.003 8±0.000 3) ( t=-3.41, P=0.003). The expression level of LC3 mRNA in remission group (0.027 3±0.007 3) was lower than that in non-remission group (0.017 9±0.006 5) ( t=3.69, P=0.017). ③ATG5 mRNA expression level was positively correlated with TJC, ESR and anti-CCP antibody ( r=0.75, P=0.049; r=0.43, P=0.044; r=0.97, P=0.011). The expression level of ATG12 mRNA was negatively correlated with DAS28, ESR and hsCRP ( r=-0.46, P=0.025; r=-0.51, P=0.026; r=-0.41, P=0.031). The expression level of ATG16 mRNA was positively correlated with ESR and hsCRP ( r=0.50, P=0.030; r=0.40, P=0.024). The expression level of Beclin-1 mRNA was significantly higher than TJC, RF-IgG and anti-CCP antibody were negatively correlated ( r=-0.51, P=0.025; r=-0.42, P=0.035; r=-0.81, P=0.043). The expression level of LC-3 mRNA was positively correlated with ESR and hsCRP ( r=0.55, P=0.028; r=0.56, P=0.024). ④Compared with the protein expression level before the treatment, of ATG12 (0.675 3±0.036 3), which (1.547 7±0.080 5) increased after 24 weeks of treatment ( t=-7.80, P=0.001). Compared with the protein expression levels of ATG16 (0.817 1±0.089 0), LC3Ⅱ (0.807 1±0.072 1) and IL-1β (1.129 7±0.118 9) before treatment, 24 weeks after, the protein expression levels of ATG16 (0.424 6±0.103 5), LC3Ⅱ (0.353 7±0.056 9) and IL-1β (0.346 7±0.050 8) decreased ( t=2.62, P=0.042; t=2.88, P=0.045; t=2.25, P=0.038) 24 weeks after treatment. Conclusion:Autophagy related genes is associated with several clinical presentations and disease activity. The results of this study suggest that autophageius are involved in the pathogenesis of RA. Abatacept may be a potential autophage modulator by regulating autophagy related genes including ATG12、ATG16 and LC3.
10.Exploring the Application of Phenomics in Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndromes Studies Based on the Relationship between Phenotypes and Syndromes
Jinhao HU ; Guiyan SUN ; Yufeng YANG ; Yan SHI
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;65(14):1514-1517
By analysing the conceptual connotations of phenotype and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) symptoms, the relationship between TCM symptoms, phenotypes and diseases is explained. It is believed that phenotypes and TCM syndromes have certain similarities, both of which elaborate the physiological and pathological mechanisms of the human body through external manifestations, and have the temporal and spatial characteristics of both phases and wholeness, as well as focusing on the connection between the innate and the acquired. Summarising the current status of the application of phenomics technology in the studies of TCM syndromes, it is concluded that the study of the intrinsic biological mechanisms of TCM syndromes with the help of phenomics technology has achieved certain results, but there are still problems such as difficulties in matching between traditional Chinese medicine syndromes and phenotypes, the incompleteness of the existing disease phenotype system, and the inconsistency of the understanding about "syndromes". It is proposed that in the future, large-scale clinical databases could be used to collect a wide range of TCM syndromes and phenotypes that are closely related to specific diseases. The phenomics technology could make preliminary correspondence and identification between a single syndrome and the corresponding phenotype, and then further carry out a more accurate phenotypic detection of the composite syndromes, and finally realise the standardization and intelligence of the diagnosis of TCM syndromes with the help of the artificial intelligence technology. By elaborating the modern scientific connotation of TCM syndromes from the perspective of phenotypes, we can provide scientific basis for the determination of TCM syndromes and the clarification of modern biomarkers of syndromes, as well as ideas for the modernisation research of TCM syndromes.


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