The Huangdi Neijing proposes the " using bitter herbs to nourish or purge" theory to guide clinical prescription and formulation of herbal remedies based on the physiological characteristics and functions of the five zang viscera, along with the properties and flavors of medicinal herbs. This study explored diabetic kidney disease pathogenesis and treatment based on the " using bitter herbs to nourish or purge" theory. Kidney dryness is a key pathological factor in diabetic kidney disease, and the disharmony of kidney dryness is an essential aspect of its pathogenesis. Strengthening is the primary therapeutic principle, and kidney dryness is a persistent factor throughout the occurrence and progression of diabetic kidney disease. In the early stage, the pathogenesis involves heat-consuming qi and injuring yin, leading to kidney dryness. In the middle stage, the pathogenesis manifests as qi deficiency and blood stasis in the collaterals, resulting in turbidity owing to kidney dryness. In the late stage, the pathogenesis involves yin and yang deficiency, with kidney dryness and disharmony. This study proposes the staging-based treatment based on the " need for firmness" characteristic of the kidney. The aim is to provide new insights for clinical diagnosis and treatment in traditional Chinese medicine by rationally using pungent, bitter, and salty medicinal herbs to nourish and moisturize the kidney. This approach seeks to promote precise syndrome differentiation and personalized treatment for different stages of diabetic kidney disease, thereby enhancing clinical efficacy.

Immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy is a globally prevalent type of primary glomerulonephritis, characterized by complex symptoms and diverse clinical manifestations. The internationally recognized " multiple hit hypothesis" explains the systemic immune disease features of IgA nephropathy. However, current treatment strategies primarily focus on local pathological changes, inadequately addressing its complex systemic mechanisms. The " qi cycle in round" theory, an integral concept of the academic thought of HUANG Yuanyu, a prominent medical expert from the Qing Dynasty, offers a concise and insightful framework for understanding complex pathologies. For example, this theory provides valuable insights for elucidating the pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy and guiding its clinical management by simplifying intricate systemic processes. This study applies the " qi cycle in round" theory to postulate that patients with IgA nephropathy experience disrupted qi flow owing to spleen-stomach qi deficiency and dampness-heat accumulation. These imbalances manifest as internal symptoms, such as diarrhea; external vulnerability to illness; upper body symptoms, like sore throat; and lower body symptoms, such as hematuria and proteinuria. Pathologically, the condition is characterized by immune complex deposition. This article also emphasizes strategies that prioritize tonifying spleen-stomach qi to enhance the pivotal functions of transportation and transformation. Regulating qi and relieving stagnation are emphasized to harmonize ascending and descending dynamics. Additionally, eliminating turbidity and unblocking collaterals are highlighted to promote qi transformation. These approaches aim to restore the harmonious operation of organ qi dynamics and harmonious qi transformation functions. This study aims to provide a reference for syndrome differentiation and IgA nephropathy treatment using traditional Chinese medicine based on the " qi cycle in round" theory.

Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） has unique advantages in alleviating the symptoms of diabetic kidney disease （DKD） and slowing its progression. However， traditional clinical trials often use the occurrence of end-stage renal disease as the end point， requiring long-term follow-up， which increases trial complexity and costs， thereby limiting the feasibility of TCM clinical studies. This paper suggested that in clinical trials of TCM for DKD， both the estimated glomerular filtration rate （eGFR） change rate （≥30%） and eGFR slope can serve as potential surrogate outcome measures. If the intervention course is short （＜1 year）， the eGFR change rate （≥30%） is recommended as a surrogate outcome measure， whereas in long-term interventional studies （≥1 year）， the eGFR slope may be more appropriate. Furthermore， based on biochemical indicators such as eGFR slope and urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio （UACR） change rate， integrating TCM symptom evaluation， TCM syndrome evaluation， and quality of life scales can help develop internationally recognized patient-reported outcome measures （PROMs） for TCM clinical trials， which will be a key step in enhancing the evaluation system for the effectiveness of TCM in treating DKD.

Diabetic kidney disease （DKD） is one of the main causes of chronic kidney disease. Both traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） and western medicine have their own advantages in the prevention and treatment of DKD， but there are also many difficulties. By analysis of the difficulties faced by TCM and western medicine in the differentiation and treatment of DKD， based on the theory of "miniature masses in the renal collaterals"， combined with long-term clinical practice， "internal heat leading to mass" is proposed as the core pathogenesis of DKD. Therefore， a trinity model of "disease-syndrome-symptom" for differentiation and treatment of DKD based on the core pathogenesis has been proposed. This model highlights the status of the core pathogenesis of "internal heat leading to mass" in DKD， and conducts a three-dimensional identification from the perspectives of disease， syndrome and symptom， so as to inspire clinical practice.

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a common microvascular complication of diabetes. "Internal heat leading to zheng" is the core pathogenesis of DKD, while "glucose toxicity" is transformed from subtle substances through "internal heat" and the cementation of various pathological products, which is pivotal to the transformation of diabetes to DKD. "Glucose toxicity" is characterized by deep and widespread heat, caused by various pathological factors, and its sticky nature makes it difficult to resolve, which can cause severe damage to the kidney collaterals. In the early stage of "glucose toxicity", it is yang pathogen, which can be transformed into yin pathogen in the later stage with disease progression. In clinical practice, treatment should be based on disease staging, with attention on grasping the pathogenesis of "internal heat leading to zheng" and identifying the nature of "glucose toxicity". During the diabetic period, clearing heat is the primary method, often using modified Yueju Pill and Dachaihu Decoction. In the early stage of DKD, treatment primarily focuses on clearing and penetrating latent heat to treat DKD, aiming to prevent toxic heat from transitioning from qi to blood. The approach emphasizes clearing heat and re-penetrating, detoxification, and re-clearing, often using a self-made modified Qingre Xiaozheng Decoction. In the middle and late stages of DKD, the focus shifts to clearing heat, eliminating zheng, strengthening vital qi, and dispelling turbidity, with commonly used treatments including the self-made modified Xiezhuo Xiaozheng Formula, Jingui Shenqi Pill, and Zhenwu Decoction.

The core pathogenesis of membranous nephropathy is spleen-kidney depletion and dampness-stasis blocking collaterals， in which spleen-kidney depletion runs through the whole process of membranous nephropathy. Spleen and kidney depletion often occurs in the early stage of membranous nephropathy， accompanied by the progression of the disease and the stagnation of deficiency and qi， which leads to the obstruction of kidney collaterals by patho-logical products such as phlegm， blood stasis and water-dampness， and then the formation of stasis obstruction in kidney collaterals over time. Huangqi （Radix Astragali） as an important herb for supplementing spleen and boosting kidney can be used to fortify spleen， consolidate kidney and generate essence， and to boost qi， expel blood and unblock collaterals when treating membranous nephropathy. With combined medicinals， it can dispel and remove wind， astringe， store and consolidate essence， unblock stagnation and remove excess， strengthen efficiency and supplement deficiency， raise yang and lift the sunken. Besides， it is emphasized that caution should be taken against the drawbacks that excessive sweet may constrain the stomach， and the sweet and the warm may assist heat in the treatment of membranous nephropathy. The degree at which the spleen is supplemented and the kidney boosted should be chosen properly， and the medication contraindications should be cautioned.

ObjectiveTo investigate the impact of yang deficiency syndrome on the progression to end-point events of diabetic kidney disease （DKD）. MethodsA retrospective study among patients with stage Ⅳ DKD admitted to Dongzhimen Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine from September 1st， 2016 to September 30th， 2021 was conducted. Data on the patients' general information， clinical indicators including duration of diabetes， duration of proteinuria， history of smoking and drinking， hemoglobin （HGB）， fasting blood glucose （FBG）， albumin （ALB）， serum creatinine （Scr）， urea nitrogen （BUN）， uric acid （UA）， cholesterol （TC） ， triglycerides （TG）， low-density lipoprotein （LDL）， 24-hour urine protein quantification （24h-UTP） and estimated glomerular filtration rate （eGFR）， and TCM syndromes including symptoms， tongue and pulse， and syndrome scores were collected. The patients were divided into exposure group （yang-deficiency group） and non-exposure group （non-yang-deficiency group）. The general information， clinical indicators and incidence rates of end-point events were compared， and the impact of yang deficiency syndrome on the end-point events of stage Ⅳ DKD was analyzed. Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier method， and multivariate Cox proportional risk models were used to identify independent predictors of end-point events. ResultsA total of 160 patients with stage Ⅳ DKD were included in the study， including 43 cases of yang deficiency syndrome and 117 cases of non-yang deficiency syndrome. Compared to those in the non-yang deficiency group， the waist circumference， BUN and the incidence of end-point events in the yang deficiency group were significantly higher （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Spearman correlation analysis showed that yang deficiency syndrome was positively correlated with incidence of end-point events of stage Ⅳ DKD （r = 0.167， P = 0.035）. Furthermore， 24h-UTP and BUN levels were also positively correlated with end-point events in stage Ⅳ DKD patients （P＜0.01）， while ALB and HGB levels were negatively correlated （P＜0.01）. Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed that yang deficiency syndrome was associated with an increased risk of end-point events （Log Rank P = 0.011）. Moreover， 24h-UTP levels ≥3500 mg， BUN level ≥8 mmol/L， ALB level ＜30 g and HGB level ＜11 g were all associated with the increase of the risk of end-point events （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that yang deficiency syndrome was an independent risk factor for patients with stage Ⅳ DKD to progress into end-point events （HR = 2.36， 1.32 to 4.21； P = 0.004）， as well as 24h-UTP ≥ 3500 mg， BUN ≥ 8 mmol/L， HGB＜11 g and ALB＜30 g （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. ConclusionsFor stage Ⅳ DKD， patients with yang deficiency syndrome are more likely to have end-point events， which is an independent risk factor for the progression into end-point events.

In the differentiation and treatment of recurrent urinary tract infection （rUTI） from the perspective of the seminal orifice， it is proposed that the urinary tract belongs to the category of "seminal orifice"， and the physiological process of urination is closely related to the function of the seminal orifice. From the three dimensions of orifice body， orifice pivot and orifice spirit， the physiological relationship between seminal orifice and the function of five zang-organs （脏） is constructed， that is， lung heat， yin damage and pathogen counter-restriction lead to malnutrition of orifice body； burning heart fire and spirit disorder lead to unfavorable orifice spirit， and kidney deficiency， liver constraint and spleen stagnation lead to unfavorable orifice pivot. In the early stage of rUTI， there is usually unfavo-rable orifice pivot， for which the treatment principle should be treating the root and the branch simultaneously， consi-dering both deficiency and excess， and paying attention to the management of accompanied symptoms. Zishui Qinggan Beverage （滋水清肝饮） and Modified Shenzhuo Decoction （肾着汤加减） are often selected based on syndrome differentiation. In the middle stage， lack of nourishment of the orifice body and unfavorable orifice spirit and pivot coexist， and the treatment should be draining the orifice and unblocking strangury， commonly withmodified Qingxin Lianzi Beverage （清心莲子饮）. In the late stage， loss of nourishment of the orifice body is the main pathogenesis， and it is necessary to further nourish the orifice body to prevent recurrence， and modifed Wuzi Yanzong Pills and Erxian Decoction （五子衍宗丸合二仙汤） is often used. Furthermore， the specific medicinals should be selected targeting at the orifice body， orifice pivot， and orifice spirit， so as to nourish orifice body by dispelling external pathogens and rectify healthy qi， to drain orifice pivot by freeing emotions and minds and unblocking qi movement， and to calm orifice spirit by unblocking heart and kidney and nourishing heart spirit.

Diabetic kidney disease(DKD)is a severe complication of diabetes.Its incidence increases annually,posing a significant burden on public health.The strategy of symptomatic treatment based on pathogenesis differentiation,focusing on identifying pathogenesis,is particularly meaningful for managing complex and variable chronic diseases like DKD.Within this framework,the state of latent heat persists throughout DKD,with"latent heat causing accumulation"identified as the core pathogenesis affecting and promoting the development and progression of DKD.This paper is centered on the concept of"latent heat causing accumulation"and adopts symptomatic treatment based on pathogenesis differentiation as its guiding principle to explore the role of latent heat in DKD.It highlights that the onset of DKD involves environmental and constitutional pathogenesis associated with"the concealment of latent heat"and"stagnant-heat invading collaterals"as the initial pathogenesis,"latent heat causing accumulation"as the core mechanism,and"secondary turbid heat"as the derivative pathogenesis.These pathogenesis factors collectively influence the symptoms,sequelae,and prognosis of DKD.Moreover,this paper provides commonly used prescriptions for different stages,syndrome types,and complications of the disease,aiming to offer a reference for clinical practice in flexibly addressing changes in disease conditions based on varied pathogenesis.

WANG Qishi put forward the theory of "yang deficiency with three lackings， controlled by the spleen" in Lixu Yuanjian （《理虚元鉴》）， which regarded that yang deficiency can lead to consumptive diseases with changes of lacking essence， lacking qi， and lacking fire， so the treatment should start from the spleen to restore the middle yang urgently. This article summarised the experience of treating type 4 cardiorenal syndrome based on the theory of "yang deficiency with three lackings， controlled by the spleen"， and proposed that lacking essence is the beginning of the onset of type 4 cardiorenal syndrome， lacking qi is the gradual development of the disease， and lacking fire is the changes of the disease， and ultimately resulted in the complex situation of kidney and qi deficiency， and edema due to yang deficiency， combined with syndromes variation. In the clinical evidence， in the stage of lacking fire， therapies should warm the middle and strengthen the spleen in order to rescue the middle yang， prescribed with modified Baoyuan Decoction （保元汤） plus Lizhong Decoction （理中汤）； in the stage of lacking qi， prescriptions can add Taoren （Juglans regia）， Tubiechong （Eupolyphaga sinensis）， Fuling （Smilax glabra）， Guizhi （Neolitsea cassia） to activate blood and drain water to transport and restore the center qi； in the stage of lacking essence， prescriptions can add Gouqizi （Lycium barbarum）， Tusizi （Cuscuta chinensis）， Duzhong （Eucommia ulmoides）， Bajitian （Gynochthodes officinalis） to supplement deficiency and resolve masses to consolidate the root and supplement essence.