1.Integrated evidence chain (Eff-iEC) based effectiveness evaluation of a multifunctional traditional Chinese medicine formula: Taking Xiaoyao San as an example
Caiping HE ; Ye LUO ; Zhiqi LI ; Haocheng YANG ; Lu LIU ; Yingjie XU ; Xiaoyan CHEN ; Siqi HUANG ; Jincai WEN ; Xiaoyan ZHAN ; Zhaofang BAI ; Xu ZHAO ; Xiaohe XIAO
Science of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;4(1):96-103
The study focuses on the concept of multifunctional traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulas and aims to evaluate the efficacy of the classical formula Xiaoyao San (逍遥散). Study employs the integrated evidence chain (Eff-iEC) method to organize, integrate, and evaluate its therapeutic efficacy in treating different diseases with the same therapy, and to investigate the feasibility of using Eff-iEC to evaluate the multifunctionality of TCM formulas. The evaluation covered Xiaoyao San's therapeutic effects on depression, premenstrual syndrome, chronic hepatitis, irritable bowel syndrome, dyspepsia, and menopausal syndrome. Concurrently, the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system was used for evaluation, and authoritative medical documents were incorporated to corroborate the recognition of Xiaoyao San within the medical community. Depression and menopausal syndrome received higher ratings than other conditions in the Eff-iEC, GRADE, and Medical Community Recognition assessments. The Eff-iEC evidence grade for Xiaoyao San was rated as "High" or above for chronic hepatitis, irritable bowel syndrome, dyspepsia, and menopausal syndrome. Premenstrual syndrome received a "Moderate +" rating. The GRADE evidence level was "Low-〇〇⨁⨁" for depression, premenstrual syndrome, and chronic hepatitis; "Moderate-〇⨁⨁⨁" for dyspepsia and menopausal syndrome; and "Very Low-〇〇〇⨁" for irritable bowel syndrome. Depression and menopausal syndrome had the highest inclusion frequency, appearing in all 4 categories. Premenstrual syndrome, chronic hepatitis, and dyspepsia are not recommended in Western medical guidelines, but they are included in TCM guidelines, the China National Basic Medical Insurance Drug List, and the China National Essential Drug List. Irritable bowel syndrome appears only in the China National Basic Medical Insurance Drug List and China National Essential Drug List. The evaluation results obtained using the Eff-iEC method align with Medical Community Recognition, providing an objective and comprehensive assessment of Xiaoyao San's efficacy. The findings suggest that Xiaoyao San has strong evidence for treating depression and menopausal syndrome. However, further experimental and clinical trials are needed to assess its efficacy in treating premenstrual syndrome, chronic hepatitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and dyspepsia. These results support the clinical efficacy and rational use of Xiaoyao San, expand the application scope of the Eff-iEC method, and offer valuable insights and methodological references for the comparative evaluation of multifunctional TCM formulas.
2.Research on the pattern of traditional Chinese medicine compounding based on the national patent compound formula for the treatment of Hashimoto thyroiditis
China Modern Doctor 2025;63(30):57-61
Objective To analyze the medication pattern of national patents for the prevention and treatment of Hashimoto thyroiditis by means of data mining technology,so as to provide reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment and new drug development.Methods To summarize the Chinese medicine compound patents for the prevention and treatment of Hashimoto thyroiditis in the patent database of the China National Intellectual Property Administration and the patent database of China Knowledge Network,with the search time from the establishment of the database to December 31,2024,with the help of Excel 2019,the Ancient and Modern Medical Case Cloud Platform,and other data mining software,to analyzed the frequency of use of the patented compound Chinese medicines,the properties,taste and meridian,the rules of association,the clustering of medicines,and the complex networks,and so on.Results Through screening,there were 57 patented compounds that met the inclusion criteria,involving 215 herbs,and the top 6 herbs used more frequently were Huangqi,Chaihu,Xiakucao,Baishao,Gancao and Fuling.The medicinal properties were considered to be cold,flat and warm,and the medicinal tastes were mainly bitter,sweet and pungent;the liver meridian was the most common meridian,followed by the spleen meridian and lung meridian.The cluster analysis identified a total of 4 high-frequency herb combinations,including 3 strongly associated herb pairs and 1 three-herb combination.Conclusion The basic pathogenesis of Hashimoto thyroiditis is mainly based on deficiency of vital Qi,Qi stagnation,blood stasis and phlegm coagulation at the gall,which belongs to the syndrome of deficiency of vital qi and deficiency of vital Qi.Clinically,tonifying deficiency medicines such as Huangqi,Gancao,Dangshen and Baizhu are often used to consolidate the foundation,liver-soothing and Qi-regulating medicines like Chaihu and Xiangfu,phlegm-resolving and nodule-dispersing medicines such as Xiakucao and Zhebeimu,and blood-activating and stasis-resolving medicines like Danggui,Chuanxiong and Danshen are employed to address the symptoms.This combined treatment of root and branch aims to prevent the progression of disease.
3.Research on the pattern of traditional Chinese medicine compounding based on the national patent compound formula for the treatment of Hashimoto thyroiditis
China Modern Doctor 2025;63(30):57-61
Objective To analyze the medication pattern of national patents for the prevention and treatment of Hashimoto thyroiditis by means of data mining technology,so as to provide reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment and new drug development.Methods To summarize the Chinese medicine compound patents for the prevention and treatment of Hashimoto thyroiditis in the patent database of the China National Intellectual Property Administration and the patent database of China Knowledge Network,with the search time from the establishment of the database to December 31,2024,with the help of Excel 2019,the Ancient and Modern Medical Case Cloud Platform,and other data mining software,to analyzed the frequency of use of the patented compound Chinese medicines,the properties,taste and meridian,the rules of association,the clustering of medicines,and the complex networks,and so on.Results Through screening,there were 57 patented compounds that met the inclusion criteria,involving 215 herbs,and the top 6 herbs used more frequently were Huangqi,Chaihu,Xiakucao,Baishao,Gancao and Fuling.The medicinal properties were considered to be cold,flat and warm,and the medicinal tastes were mainly bitter,sweet and pungent;the liver meridian was the most common meridian,followed by the spleen meridian and lung meridian.The cluster analysis identified a total of 4 high-frequency herb combinations,including 3 strongly associated herb pairs and 1 three-herb combination.Conclusion The basic pathogenesis of Hashimoto thyroiditis is mainly based on deficiency of vital Qi,Qi stagnation,blood stasis and phlegm coagulation at the gall,which belongs to the syndrome of deficiency of vital qi and deficiency of vital Qi.Clinically,tonifying deficiency medicines such as Huangqi,Gancao,Dangshen and Baizhu are often used to consolidate the foundation,liver-soothing and Qi-regulating medicines like Chaihu and Xiangfu,phlegm-resolving and nodule-dispersing medicines such as Xiakucao and Zhebeimu,and blood-activating and stasis-resolving medicines like Danggui,Chuanxiong and Danshen are employed to address the symptoms.This combined treatment of root and branch aims to prevent the progression of disease.
4.β-Glucan-modified nanoparticles with different particle sizes exhibit different lymphatic targeting efficiencies and adjuvant effects.
Wen GUO ; Xinyue ZHANG ; Long WAN ; Zhiqi WANG ; Meiqi HAN ; Ziwei YAN ; Jia LI ; Ruizhu DENG ; Shenglong LI ; Yuling MAO ; Siling WANG
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2024;14(12):100953-100953
Particle size and surface properties are crucial for lymphatic drainage (LN), dendritic cell (DC) uptake, DC maturation, and antigen cross-presentation induced by nanovaccine injection, which lead to an effective cell-mediated immune response. However, the manner in which the particle size and surface properties of vaccine carriers such as mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) affect this immune response is unknown. We prepared 50, 100, and 200 nm of MSNs that adsorbed ovalbumin antigen (OVA) while modifying β-glucan to enhance immunogenicity. The results revealed that these MSNs with different particle sizes were just as efficient in vitro, and MSNs with β-glucan modification demonstrated higher efficacy. However, the in vivo results indicated that MSNs with smaller particle sizes have stronger lymphatic targeting efficiency and a greater ability to promote the maturation of DCs. The results also indicate that β-glucan-modified MSN, with a particle size of ∼100 nm, has a great potential as a vaccine delivery vehicle and immune adjuvant and offers a novel approach for the delivery of multiple therapeutic agents that target other lymph-mediated diseases.
5.β-Glucan-modified nanoparticles with different particle sizes exhibit different lymphatic targeting efficiencies and adjuvant effects
Wen GUO ; Xinyue ZHANG ; Long WAN ; Zhiqi WANG ; Meiqi HAN ; Ziwei YAN ; Jia LI ; Ruizhu DENG ; Shenglong LI ; Yuling MAO ; Siling WANG
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2024;14(12):1868-1878
Particle size and surface properties are crucial for lymphatic drainage(LN),dendritic cell(DC)uptake,DC maturation,and antigen cross-presentation induced by nanovaccine injection,which lead to an effective cell-mediated immune response.However,the manner in which the particle size and surface properties of vaccine carriers such as mesoporous silica nanoparticles(MSNs)affect this immune response is un-known.We prepared 50,100,and 200 nm of MSNs that adsorbed ovalbumin antigen(OVA)while modifying β-glucan to enhance immunogenicity.The results revealed that these MSNs with different particle sizes were just as efficient in vitro,and MSNs with β-glucan modification demonstrated higher efficacy.However,the in vivo results indicated that MSNs with smaller particle sizes have stronger lymphatic targeting efficiency and a greater ability to promote the maturation of DCs.The results also indicate that β-glucan-modified MSN,with a particle size of-100 nm,has a great potential as a vaccine delivery vehicle and immune adjuvant and offers a novel approach for the delivery of multiple thera-peutic agents that target other lymph-mediated diseases.
6.Capacity of cognitive control in patients with cerebral small vessel disease
Zhiqi WANG ; Jun ZHANG ; Qiang WEI ; Shanshan CAO ; Wen PAN ; Kai WANG
Chinese Journal of Behavioral Medicine and Brain Science 2020;29(3):221-226
Objective:To evaluate the capacity of cognitive control(CCC) in patients with cerebral small vessel disease(CSVD) and explore the relationship between CCC and cognitive function in CSVD, and to assess the predict value of CCC on the occurrence of CSVD.Methods:Twenty-two patients with CSVD and twenty-three healthy controls were enrolled.All of them completed the majority function task-masked (MFT-M) and a set of neuropsychological tests.Neuropsychological test was performed by Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA), verbal fluency test (VFT), Chinese auditory learning test (CAVLT), symbol digit modalities test (SDMT), digital span (DS), Stroop color word test (SCWT), color trail test (CTT) and Modified Boston naming test (Modified BNT). The predict value of CCC for the occurrence of CSVD was assessed with logistic regression analysis.Results:CCC of patients with CSVD was lower than that of healthy control ((2.97±0.72)bps vs (3.53±0.62)bps, t=-2.704, P=0.01). Between patients with CSVD and healthy control, there were significant differences in MoCA ((22.24±4.58 vs (24.86±2.42), t=-2.334, P=0.026), VFT-animal (12(6) vs 15(6), Z=-2.965, P=0.003), VFT-vegetables and fruits ((13.79±3.81) vs (18.27±4.13), t=-3.592, P=0.001), CAVLT-immediate ((7.45±2.18) vs (9.11±2.08), t=-2.502, P=0.017), CAVLT-short term delay ((7.20±3.32) vs (10.76±3.08), t=-3.564, P=0.001), CAVLT-long term delay ((7.30±3.16) vs (10.29±3.18), t=-3.012, P=0.005), SDMT ((15.95±5.49) vs (23.41±12.73), t=-2.513, P=0.018), CTT-A (85.17(42.60) vs 55.50(52.65), Z=-2.965, P=0.003), CTT-B ((200.69±71.35) vs (132.44±53.66), t=3.556, P=0.001), and CTT-B-A ((104.13±53.31) vs (65.20±35.98), t=2.819, P=0.007). But there was no significant difference in VFT-word begin with Chinese character"water"((3.68±2.63) vs (5.44±2.71), t=-1.940, P=0.061), CAVLT-recognition (14(3) vs 14(4), Z=-0.524, P=0.601), DS-forward (7.0(3.0) vs 5.5(2.0), Z=-0.152, P=0.880), DS-backward (4(1) vs 4(2), Z=-1.044, P=0.297), SCWT ((9.50±9.28) vs (5.94±10.47), t=1.123, P=0.268), Modified BNT (14.0(3.0) vs 13.5(3.0), Z=-0.727, P=0.467) between CSVD patients and healthy controls.In patients with CSVD, CCC was positively correlated with scores of MoCA ( r=0.551, P=0.010) and also with DS-forward ( r=0.532, P=0.013) and SCWT ( r=-0.487, P=0.040). Logistic regression analysis showed that CCC was an important variable in predicting the possibility of CSVD ( B=-1.318, P=0.019, OR=0.268, 95% CI (0.089-0.808)). Conclusion:Compared with the healthy control, CCC in patients with CSVD decreases significantly and CCC is related to the cognitive impairment.CCC can predict the possibility of CSVD.
7.Synergistic antitumor activity of artesunate and HDAC inhibitors through elevating heme synthesis synergistic upregulation of ALAS1 expression.
Cai-Ping CHEN ; Kun CHEN ; Zhiqi FENG ; Xiaoan WEN ; Hongbin SUN
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2019;9(5):937-951
Artemisinin and its derivatives (ARTs) were reported to display heme-dependent antitumor activity. On the other hand, histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) were known to be able to promote heme synthesis in erythroid cells. Nevertheless, the effect of HDACi on heme homeostasis in non-erythrocytes remains unknown. We envisioned that the combination of HDACi and artesunate (ARS) might have synergistic antitumor activity through modulating heme synthesis. studies revealed that combination of ARS and HDACi exerted synergistic tumor inhibition by inducing cell death. Moreover, this combination exhibited more effective antitumor activity than either ARS or HDACi monotherapy in xenograft models without apparent toxicity. Importantly, mechanistic studies revealed that HDACi coordinated with ARS to increase 5-aminolevulinate synthase (ALAS1) expression, and subsequent heme production, leading to enhanced cytotoxicity of ARS. Notably, knocking down significantly blunted the synergistic effect of ARS and HDACi on tumor inhibition, indicating a critical role of ALAS1 upregulation in mediating ARS cytotoxicity. Collectively, our study revealed the mechanism of synergistic antitumor action of ARS and HDACi. This finding indicates that modulation of heme synthesis pathway by the combination based on ARTs and other heme synthesis modulators represents a promising therapeutic approach to solid tumors.
8.Study on the anti-tumor effect of paclitaxel mixed micelle by using in vivo optical imaging technique.
Wen TAI ; Minmin SUN ; Nan LIU ; Zhiqi HUANG ; Shanghai NIE ; Yanli HAO ; Xiaoning ZHANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2010;45(4):530-4
In vivo tumor imaging technique method based on bioluminescence principle was established to evaluate the anti-tumor effect of paclitaxel mixed micelle (PMM). MDA-MB-231 tumor cells with luciferase reporter vectors were firstly implanted into nude mice, and subsequently the luciferase substrate was regularly injected during intraperitoneal administration of PMM. Then the tumor size, growth and the intensity of light signals were monitored with in vivo imaging technique. The method of luciferase tumor in vivo imaging could be real-time, reliable and exact in labeling and reflecting the growth of tumors, and the observed results were consistent with that by conventional method, so it would be a feasible approach to study anti-tumor effect of drugs. The anti-tumor effect of paclitaxel mixed micelle was observed by this method, and the results showed that this formulation could inhibit growth of tumor, and the anti-tumor rate of it was about 85%.

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