ObjectiveTo assess the relapse rate， clinical efficacy， and safety of a traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） sequential syndrome differentiation protocol for frequently relapsing/steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome （FRNS/SDNS） in children. MethodsA total of 151 children with FRNS/SDNS treated in the First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine from December 2020 to June 2024 were randomized into an observation group （77 cases） and a control group （74 cases）. Both groups received Western medicine （prednisone tablets and tacrolimus capsules）. In addition， the observation group additionally underwent TCM sequential syndrome differentiation and the control group received 1/10 of the TCM dose. The 6-month intervention was followed by a 12-month follow-up， totaling 18 months of observation across seven time points （before treatment and after 1， 2， 4， 24， 52， 76 weeks of treatment）. The evaluation was carried out based on the following indicators. ① The relapse rates were mainly recorded after 24， 52， 76 weeks of treatment. ② The efficacy was evaluated based on the clinical remission rates after 1， 2， 4 weeks of treatment， the time to proteinuria clearance， the levels of 24-hour urine total protein （24-h UTP）， serum total protein （TP）， serum albumin （ALB）， cholesterol （CHO）， and triglycerides （TG） and the TCM symptom scores before treatment and after 24 weeks of treatment. ③ The treatment safety was evaluated based on blood routine and levels of liver enzymes， renal function indicators and blood glucose （Glu） before treatment and after 24 weeks of treatment. Results① Relapse rate： After 24 weeks of treatment， no significant difference in relapse rate was found between the two groups. The observation group showed lower relapse rates than the control group after 52 weeks of treatment ［24.2% （16/66） vs. 52.5% （31/59）， χ²=10.634， P<0.01］ and 76 weeks of treatment ［42.4% （28/66） vs. 74.6% （44/59）， χ²=13.186， P<0.01］ than the control group. ② Efficacy indicators： The two groups showed no significant difference in remission rate after 1 week of treatment. The observation group demonstrated higher remission rates after 2 weeks of treatment ［88.2% （67/76） vs. 74.0% （54/73）， Z=-1.999， P<0.05］ and 4 weeks of treatment ［94.7% （72/76） vs. 82.2% （60/73）， Z=-2.3589， P<0.05）. In addition， the observation group had shorter time to proteinuria clearance （P<0.01）. After treatment， both groups showed declined 24 h-UTP， CHO， TG， and TCM symptom scores and elevated TP and ALB levels （P<0.01）， and the observation group had lower CHO， TG， and TCM symptom scores and higher TP and ALB than the control group （P<0.05）. ③ Safety indicators： After treatment， both groups showed declined white blood cell count （WBC）， red blood cell count （RBC）， hemoglobin （HB）， and alanine aminotransferase （ALT） （P<0.05， P<0.01） and elevated Glu （P<0.01） and blood urea nitrogen （BUN） （P<0.05）. After 24 weeks of treatment， none of WBC， RBC， HB， PLT， ALT， AST， BUN， Cr or Glu had significant differences between groups. Moreover， the incidence of adverse reactions showed no significant difference between the two groups. ConclusionThe TCM sequential syndrome differentiation protocol effectively reduces the relapse rate， improves the remission rate， shortens the time to proteinuria clearance， raised serum protein levels， lowers blood lipid levels， and alleviates symptoms， demonstrating good clinical safety in children with FRNS/SDNS.

Objective To observe the effects of Tongqiao Pingchuan Decoction on miR-155 and NF-κB-HIF-1α signaling pathway in mice with combined allergic rhinitis and asthma syndrome(CARAS);To explore its potential mechanisms in the treatment of chronic inflammation of respiratory tract in CARAS.Methods Totally 60 female BALB/c mice were divided into blank group,model group,miR-155 inhibitor NC group,miR-155 inhibitor group,dexamethasone group and Tongqiao Pingchuan Decoction group using a random number table method,with 10 mice in each group.Except for the blank group,all other groups were sensitized by intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin combined with aluminum hydroxide gel on days 0 and 7.From days 14 to 30,5%ovalbumin was administered intranasally every other day,followed by continuous nebulization with 5%ovalbumin from days 31 to 37.The miR-155 inhibitor NC group and the miR-155 inhibitor group received intranasal administration of miR-155 inhibitor NC and miR-155 inhibitor solution,respectively,3 hours before nebulization.The blank group was given an equivalent volume of normal saline via intraperitoneal injection,intranasal administration and nebulization.The administration groups were gavaged with the corresponding drug solution 1 hour after nebulization,while the other groups received an equivalent volume of normal saline via gavage.HE staining was used to observe morphology of nasal mucosa and lung tissue,ELISA was used to detect the contents of interleukin(IL)-4,IL-5,and γ-interferon(IFN-γ)in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid,RT-qPCR was used to detect the expression of miR-155,T-bet,GATA-3,NF-κB p65 and HIF-1α mRNA in nasal mucosa and lung tissue,Western blot was used to detect the expressions of T-bet,GATA-3,NF-κB p65 and HIF-1α proteins in lung tissue.Results Compared with the blank group,the model group mice showed shedding of nasal mucosal cilia,tissue congestion and edema,significant glandular hyperplasia and inflammatory cell infiltration,bronchial lumen stenosis,smooth muscle thickening and a large amount of inflammatory substance exudation,the contents of IL-4 and IL-5 increased,while IFN-γ content decreased(P<0.01),the mRNA expression of miR-155,GATA-3,NF-κB p65,HIF-1α in nasal mucosa and lung tissue were increased(P<0.01),while T-bet mRNA expression was decreased(P<0.01),the protein expression of GATA-3,NF-κB p65 and HIF-1α in lung tissue increased(P<0.01),while T-bet protein expression decreased(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the miR-155 inhibitor group,dexamethasone group and Tongqiao Pingchuan Decoction group showed reduced inflammatory cell infiltration and pathological changes in nasal mucosa and lung tissue of mice,the contents of IL-4 and IL-5 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were reduced,while the content of IFN-γ was increased(P<0.01),the expressions of miR-155,GATA-3,NF-κB p65 and HIF-1α mRNA in nasal mucosa and lung tissue were reduced(P<0.05,P<0.01),while the expression of T-bet mRNA increased(P<0.05,P<0.01),the expressions of GATA-3,NF-κB p65 and HIF-1α protein in lung tissue were reduced(P<0.05,P<0.01),the expression of T-bet protein in dexamethasone group and Tongqiao Pingchuan Decoction group mice increased(P<0.05).Conclusion Tongqiao Pingchuan Decoction can effectively inhibit the expression of miR-155,suppress the abnormal activation of NF-κB-HIF-1α signaling pathway,correct the imbalance of Th1/Th2 immunity,and play a therapeutic role in alleviating airway inflammation in CARAS.

Objective To observe the effects of Tongqiao Pingchuan Decoction on miR-155 and NF-κB-HIF-1α signaling pathway in mice with combined allergic rhinitis and asthma syndrome(CARAS);To explore its potential mechanisms in the treatment of chronic inflammation of respiratory tract in CARAS.Methods Totally 60 female BALB/c mice were divided into blank group,model group,miR-155 inhibitor NC group,miR-155 inhibitor group,dexamethasone group and Tongqiao Pingchuan Decoction group using a random number table method,with 10 mice in each group.Except for the blank group,all other groups were sensitized by intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin combined with aluminum hydroxide gel on days 0 and 7.From days 14 to 30,5%ovalbumin was administered intranasally every other day,followed by continuous nebulization with 5%ovalbumin from days 31 to 37.The miR-155 inhibitor NC group and the miR-155 inhibitor group received intranasal administration of miR-155 inhibitor NC and miR-155 inhibitor solution,respectively,3 hours before nebulization.The blank group was given an equivalent volume of normal saline via intraperitoneal injection,intranasal administration and nebulization.The administration groups were gavaged with the corresponding drug solution 1 hour after nebulization,while the other groups received an equivalent volume of normal saline via gavage.HE staining was used to observe morphology of nasal mucosa and lung tissue,ELISA was used to detect the contents of interleukin(IL)-4,IL-5,and γ-interferon(IFN-γ)in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid,RT-qPCR was used to detect the expression of miR-155,T-bet,GATA-3,NF-κB p65 and HIF-1α mRNA in nasal mucosa and lung tissue,Western blot was used to detect the expressions of T-bet,GATA-3,NF-κB p65 and HIF-1α proteins in lung tissue.Results Compared with the blank group,the model group mice showed shedding of nasal mucosal cilia,tissue congestion and edema,significant glandular hyperplasia and inflammatory cell infiltration,bronchial lumen stenosis,smooth muscle thickening and a large amount of inflammatory substance exudation,the contents of IL-4 and IL-5 increased,while IFN-γ content decreased(P<0.01),the mRNA expression of miR-155,GATA-3,NF-κB p65,HIF-1α in nasal mucosa and lung tissue were increased(P<0.01),while T-bet mRNA expression was decreased(P<0.01),the protein expression of GATA-3,NF-κB p65 and HIF-1α in lung tissue increased(P<0.01),while T-bet protein expression decreased(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the miR-155 inhibitor group,dexamethasone group and Tongqiao Pingchuan Decoction group showed reduced inflammatory cell infiltration and pathological changes in nasal mucosa and lung tissue of mice,the contents of IL-4 and IL-5 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were reduced,while the content of IFN-γ was increased(P<0.01),the expressions of miR-155,GATA-3,NF-κB p65 and HIF-1α mRNA in nasal mucosa and lung tissue were reduced(P<0.05,P<0.01),while the expression of T-bet mRNA increased(P<0.05,P<0.01),the expressions of GATA-3,NF-κB p65 and HIF-1α protein in lung tissue were reduced(P<0.05,P<0.01),the expression of T-bet protein in dexamethasone group and Tongqiao Pingchuan Decoction group mice increased(P<0.05).Conclusion Tongqiao Pingchuan Decoction can effectively inhibit the expression of miR-155,suppress the abnormal activation of NF-κB-HIF-1α signaling pathway,correct the imbalance of Th1/Th2 immunity,and play a therapeutic role in alleviating airway inflammation in CARAS.