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.Etiology spectrum, clinical features, and gene mutations of unexplained intrahepatic cholestasis: An analysis of 62 cases
Jialuo WANG ; Yufeng ZHENG ; Qingfang XIONG ; Yongfeng YANG
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(2):307-313
ObjectiveTo investigate the etiology and clinical features of intrahepatic cholestasis and the diagnostic value of whole exome sequencing (WES) through a retrospective analysis of the medical history, pathological results, and gene sequencing data of 62 patients with unexplained intrahepatic cholestasis. MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 480 patients who underwent WES due to unexplained liver function abnormalities in Nanjing Second Hospital from January 2017 to December 2023, among whom 62 patients with unexplained intrahepatic cholestasis were selected based on laboratory data, and a confirmed diagnosis was made based on imaging data, pathological findings, and gene sequencing data. The patients with unexplained intrahepatic cholestasis were analyzed in terms of demographic features, clinical manifestation, etiology spectrum, and genetic profile. ResultsA total of 62 patients with unexplained intrahepatic cholestasis were included, among whom there were 35 male patients and 27 female patients, with a median age of 42 (7 — 77) years. WES was used to make a definite diagnosis in 21 patients (33.87%), among whom the patients with familial intrahepatic cholestasis accounted for the highest proportion of 52.38% (11/21); genetic metabolic disorders were excluded by WES in 34 patients, with drug-induced liver injury and sepsis-associated liver injury accounting for the highest proportion of 55.88% (19/34), followed by primary biliary cholangitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis accounting for 20.59% (7/34) and intrahepatic bile duct stones accounting for 17.65% (6/34), while the patients with a lack of confirmed diagnosis accounted for 11.29% (7/62). A total of 21 novel mutation sites which were not reported in previous articles were identified in this study. ConclusionGenetic metabolic disorders constitute a significant proportion of unexplained intrahepatic cholestasis, and WES plays a crucial role in the diagnosis of unexplained intrahepatic cholestasis.
4.Development and validation of the “Questionnaires on the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of College Students in Response to Public Health Emergencies”
Hong JIANG ; Shuli MA ; Yufeng ZHANG ; Yue ZHAO ; Xinling YANG
China Occupational Medicine 2025;52(1):33-39
Objective To develop the "Questionnaires on the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of College Students in Response to Public Health Emergencies" and validate its reliability and validity. Methods The initial questionnaire was developed according to literature review, expert consultations, and one-on-one interviews with students and educators. A total of 43 college students were selected as the pre-test subjects using the convenience sampling method. The final version of the questionnaire was developed using item analysis and expert consultations. A total of 682 college students were selected as the validation subjects using the cluster sampling method. The exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were used to assess the reliability and validity of the questionnaire. Results The final version of the questionnaire consisted of three dimensions: knowledge, practice, and attitude, with 5, 10, 7 items, respectively. The KMO test value for the questionnaire was 0.804, with Bartlett′s test of sphericity showing a chi-square value of 2 000.557 (P<0.01). The content validity index for each item ranged from 0.894 to 1.000, with the overall content validity index for the questionnaire being 0.966 and 0.973. The exploratory factor analysis identified three common factors, with a cumulative variance contribution rate of 54.1%. The result of confirmatory factor analysis showed good model fit, with model fit index, comparative fit index, normed fit index, incremental fit index, Tucker-Lewis Index, root mean square error of approximation of 2.960, 0.930, 0.940, 0.930, 0.950 and 0.070, respectively. The Cronbach's α coefficient for the questionnaire was 0.772, split-half reliability was 0.604, and test-retest reliability was 0.905. Conclusion The "Questionnaires on the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of College Students in Response to Public Health Emergencies" demonstrates good reliability, and it is suitable for widespread application.
5.Treatment of Renal Injury in Wilson Disease Based on Pathogenesis of Latent Toxin in Kidney Collaterals
Ke DIAO ; Wenming YANG ; Xiang LI ; Yue YANG ; Yulong YANG ; Zhihong RAO ; Shuzhen FANG ; Yufeng DING
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(15):132-139
Hepatolenticular degeneration, also known as Wilson disease (WD), is a hereditary disease caused by mutations in the ATP7B gene, leading to copper metabolism disorders. Gene mutations result in impaired synthesis of copper-binding protein, and abnormal excretion of copper through bile leads to pathological deposition of copper in various organs, ultimately causing multi-organ damage. The insidious onset and low specificity of symptoms make it difficult to diagnose this disease. On the basis of existing studies and the theory of latent toxin, this paper proposes that latent toxin in kidney collaterals is the main pathogenesis of renal injury in WD. It is pointed out that health Qi deficiency and latent pathogen are the premises for the occurrence of this disease, and the transformation of latent pathogen into toxin is the ley pathological process. Toxin damaging kidney collaterals is the ultimate result. According to the pathogenesis, this paper proposes the treatment principle of reinforcing healthy Qi and resolving toxin and treatment based on syndrome differentiation. This review provides new ideas for the diagnosis and treatment of renal injury in WD with traditional Chinese medicine.
6.Correlation between Muscle Tension,Clinical Characteristics, and Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndromes in Patients with Wilson Disease Based on Digital Muscle Function Assessment System Myoton PRO
Yulong YANG ; Wenming YANG ; Han WANG ; Xiang LI ; Taohua WEI ; Wenjie HAO ; Yue YANG ; Yufeng DING ; Yuqi SONG ; Wei HE
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(15):147-154
ObjectiveThis paper aims to use the digital muscle function assessment system Myoton PRO to assess the correlation between muscle tension,clinical characteristics, and traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) syndromes in patients with hepatolenticular degeneration [also known as Wilson disease(WD)]. MethodsA total of 104 patients with WD accompanied by abnormal muscle tension(increased or decreased,hereinafter the same) who were hospitalized in the Brain Disease Centre of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine from April 2021 to November 2023 were selected,all of whom were subjected to TCM syndrome diagnosis and Myoton PRO for the measurement of F value of muscle tension,Goldstein, and UWDRS-N scales. The age of onset of the disease and disease duration were analyzed,and the differences and correlations of the above indexes in different TCM syndromes of WD were analyzed ResultsAmong the 104 patients with WD ,the phlegm and stasis syndrome was the most common(60 patients),followed by the damp-heat syndrome(33 patients),and the least common was the liver-kidney Yin deficiency syndrome(11 patients). The F value of the phlegm and stasis syndrome group was higher than that of the liver-kidney Yin deficiency syndrome group and the damp-heat syndrome group(P<0.01). The F value of the damp-heat syndrome group was higher than that of the liver-kidney Yin deficiency syndrome group(P<0.05),and the F value of the lower limbs of each group was higher than that of the upper limbs(P<0.01). Goldstein and UWDRS-N scores of the patients in the phlegm and stasis syndrome group were higher than those in the damp-heat syndrome group and the liver-kidney Yin deficiency syndrome group(P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the Goldstein and UWDRS-N scores of patients in the liver-kidney Yin deficiency syndrome group and the damp-heat syndrome group. Correlation analysis revealed that the age of onset and duration of the disease were positively correlated with the F values of the lower limbs(r=0.20,P<0.05,r=0.38,P<0.01)and had no significant correlation with those of the upper limbs. The F value levels of muscle tension of all limbs in the three groups of patients were positively correlated with the Goldstein and UWDRS-N scores(muscle tension of the upper limbs in the phlegm and stasis syndrome group,r=0.36,P<0.01,r=0.42,P<0.01. muscle tension of the lower limbs in the phlegm and stasis syndrome group,r=0.70,P<0.01,r=0.60,P<0.01. muscle tension of the upper limbs in the damp-heat syndrome group,r=0.64,P<0.01,r=0.53,P<0.01. muscle tension of the lower limbs in the damp-heat syndrome group,r=0.59,P<0.01,r=0.70,P<0.01. muscle tension of the upper limbs in the liver-kidney Yin deficiency syndrome group,r=0.70,P<0.01,r=0.74,P<0.01. muscle tension of the lower limbs in the liver-kidney Yin deficiency syndrome group,r=0.85,P<0.01,r=0.62,P<0.01).
7.Comparison of trends in the disease burden of gout in China and globally in 1990 - 2021, and prediction of disease burden in China in 2030
Zhichun CHANG ; Huele LI ; Yanfang LI ; Ting QIN ; Jun LI ; Mingren HU ; Xinjing YANG ; Yufeng XIE
Journal of Public Health and Preventive Medicine 2025;36(4):7-11
Objective To explore the changing trend in the disease burden of gout in China from 1990 to 2021, and analyze the incidence, prevalence, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) by age and gender, with comparisons to global patterns, and to predict the disease burden of gout in China in 2030. Methods Data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) database were used to analyze changes in gout burden. Joinpoint regression was used to estimate the average annual percentage change (AAPC) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Comparative analyses were conducted on data from China and the world, and an ARIMA model was used to project China's gout burden in 2030. Results From 1990 to 2021, China's age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) rose from 122.52 to 151.61/100,000, exceeding the global rise from 93.09 to 109.07/100,000. The age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR) in China increased from 640.67/100,000 to 810.35/100,000, compared to a global rise from 536.54/100,000 to 653.81/100,000. The age-standardized DALYs rate (ASDR) in China increased from 20.2/100,000 to 25.43/100,000, surpassing the global increase from 16.67/100,000 to 20.21/100,000. AAPCs for ASIR, ASPR, and ASDR in China were 0.70%, 0.77%, and 0.75%, respectively, all higher than global rates. Middle-aged and elderly men faced the highest burden. It was predicted that there will be a decline in China's ASIR and ASPR by 2030, while ASDR will remain stable. Conclusion The disease burden of gout in China has increased significantly, outpacing global trends. Targeted interventions for hyperuricemia, particularly in elderly men, are crucial to reduce the future disease burden.
8.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.
9.Effects of whole breast combined with regional nodal hypofractionated radiotherapy on PLC and NLR in patients with breast cancer
Yang ZHOU ; Xiaohong WANG ; Bin LI ; Yuwei WANG ; Jiangong WANG ; Yufeng LI
Chinese Journal of Radiological Health 2025;34(5):679-686
Objective To investigate the effects of whole breast combined with regional nodal hypofractionated radiotherapy compared with conventional fractionated radiotherapy on peripheral lymphocyte count (PLC) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in patients with breast cancer after breast-conserving surgery. Methods This retrospective study enrolled 94 patients with breast cancer who underwent breast-conserving surgery in Tangshan People’s Hospital between April 2022 and April 2024. All patients received whole breast combined with regional nodal radiotherapy. These patients were divided into hypofractionated radiotherapy group (n = 42) and conventional fractionated radiotherapy group (n = 52) according to radiotherapy regimen. Differences in PLC and NLR before and after radiotherapy between the two groups were compared using the t-test. Results Before radiotherapy, the baseline PLC and NLR were comparable between the two groups (P > 0.05). After radiotherapy, PLC decreased and NLR increased in both groups (P < 0.05). The PLC in the hypofractionated radiotherapy group was significantly higher than that in the conventional fractionated radiotherapy group (0.95 ± 0.30 vs. 0.77 ± 0.26, P = 0.002), and the NLR was significantly lower in the hypofractionated radiotherapy group than in the conventional fractionated radiotherapy group (2.86 ± 1.27 vs. 3.67 ± 1.59, P = 0.010). Conclusion Compared with conventional fractionated radiotherapy, whole breast combined with regional nodal hypofractionated radiotherapy has less impact on PLC and NLR in patients with breast cancer after breast-conserving surgery.
10.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.


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