1.Theoretical Exploration of Diabetic Retinopathy Guided by Luobing Theory
Liping CHANG ; Jing MA ; Kun MA ; Zhenhua JIA ; Cong WEI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(1):253-258
Diabetic retinopathy(DR), as one of the most common and serious microvascular complications of diabetes mellitus, seriously threatens human health, and belongs to "Xiaoke eye diseases" in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), which has been richly experienced by medical practitioners through the ages, but is mostly recorded in a piecemeal manner and has not been systematically researched. This disease is featured by long course and repeated attack, and is refractory, which belongs to the research category of "persistent illness entering collaterals". Systematic establishment of TCM collateral disease theory for guiding prevention and treatment of DR has important clinical value. On the basis of close correlation between tertiary collaterals at the terminal of collaterals and capillaries and microcirculation, the concept of "tertiary collaterals-microvascular" is proposed. It is pointed out that DR falls within the scope of "tertiary collaterals-microvascular" diseases, and presents four types of micro-pathological characteristics, including stasis, insufficiency, growth and bleeding of tertiary collaterals. It is concluded that "deficiency of both Qi and Yin" is the basic pathogenesis of DR, and "blood stasis and collateral obstruction" is the important pathogenesis and key factor. Thus, the treatment method of "dispersing blood stasis, dredging collateral, tonifying Qi and Yin, stopping hemorrhage and improving eyesight" is determined, and the formula of Tongluo Mingmu capsules is developed. The article tightly focuses on the pathological changes such as stasis, growth, insufficiency and bleeding of collaterals, addresses both symptoms and root causes, and plays a synergistic role of both dispersing stasis and stopping bleeding. In this way, it can realize the purpose of tonifying Qi and Yin to replenish the essence, dispersing stasis and dredging collaterals to meet the requirement, as well as stopping hemorrhage and improving eyesight to deal with changes. Fundamental researches demonstrate that Tongluo Mingmu capsules has synergy effects of protecting both retinal capillaries and retinal cells. Phase-Ⅲ clinical trial of new drug has proven definite clinical efficacy and good safety, which provides a new drug choice for enhancing clinical effect of DR, and further supports the scientific value of Luobing theory in preventing and treating DR and other clinically significant diseases.
2.Premature Aging Prevention and Treatment Guided by Essence-Qi-Spirit Theory of Qiluo Doctrine: A Review
Chuanyuan JI ; Hongrong LI ; Jiameng HAO ; Dandong WANG ; Yucong MA ; Kun MA ; Cong WEI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(2):279-285
The theoretical basis of premature aging originates from The Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic. The etiology of premature aging is complex, and the disease mechanism is based on deficiency. The treatment for premature aging is based on tonicity. The essence-Qi-spirit theory of Qiluo doctrine summarizes that "essence is the origin of life, Qi is the driving force of life, and spirit is the embodiment of life", which is the law of life. The theory puts forward the core disease mechanism of aging, which states that "deficiency of kidney essence is the root of aging, deficiency of primordial Qi is the key to aging, impairment of soma and spirit is the manifestation of aging". The theory also proposes the treatment of "tonifying kidney and supplementing essence, harmonizing Yin and Yang, warming and supporting primordial Qi, and nourishing soma and spirit" and the representative anti-aging drugs. The article unfolds from the perspective of the concepts of natural life span, premature senility before fifty, decline, and aging and also explains the origins and connotations of premature aging. The article explains the disease mechanism of premature aging under the guidance of the essence-Qi-spirit theory of Qiluo doctrine, which is "early deprivation of kidney essence, deficiency of primordial Qi, accumulation of deficiencies into impairment, and decline and impairment of soma and spirit", summarizes the progress of modern medical research on the treatment of premature aging and representative drugs, and finds that Bazi Bushen capsules have a precise therapeutic effect on the overall premature aging, systematic functional decline, and related diseases. The study provides theoretical basis and new ideas to solve the problems of premature aging and geriatric diseases.
3.Clinical Advantages and Key Research Points of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation
Cong SUN ; Yujiang DONG ; Hongmei GAO ; Qing WEI ; Menghe ZHANG ; Xiaojing SHI ; Liya FENG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(2):133-138
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) therapy has unique clinical advantages in the treatment of atrial fibrillation, mainly reflected in five aspects, improving quality of life, enabling early diagnosis and treatment, promoting cardiac rehabilitation, making up for the limitations of Western medicine, and improving the success rate of catheter ablation. However, there is insufficient evidence in current clinical research. Based on the current status of TCM research in the treatment of atrial fibrillation, it is suggested that future studies should focus on standardized research on syndrome differentiation and classification. This can be achieved through clinical epidemiological surveys, expert consensus, and other methods to establish a unified syndrome differentiation and classification standard for atrial fibrillation. Clinical efficacy evaluation indicators should be standardized, and core outcome measures for clinical research on TCM treatment of atrial fibrillation should be developed through systematic reviews, patient interviews, and other methods. Additionally, clinical research design, implementation, and data management should be improved. By leveraging modern information technologies such as artificial intelligence, the scientific and standardized nature of TCM intervention research on atrial fibrillation can be enhanced, ultimately improving the quality of research.
4.Development of a RP scoring system for predicting perioperative outcomes in robot-assisted partial nephrectomy by optimizing RENAL and MAP scores
Liang ZHENG ; Bohong CHEN ; Haoxiang HUANG ; Cong FENG ; Jin ZENG ; Wei CHEN ; Dapeng WU
Journal of Modern Urology 2025;30(1):53-58
[Objective] To establish a new scoring system to predict the perioperative outcomes (operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and trifecta achievement) in patients undergoing robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) by integrating the RENAL and Mayo adhesive probability (MAP) scores. [Methods] Clinical data of 178 patients with renal cell carcinoma who underwent RAPN performed by the same surgeon in our hospital during Jan.2015 and Jan.2022 were retrospectively analyzed.The RENAL and MAP scores of all patients were calculated.Linear regression and logistic regression were used to evaluate the associations between the components of the RENAL and MAP scores (a total of 6 variables) and perioperative outcomes.The factors with significant associations were then included into logistic regression analysis to identify independent predictors for constructing an assessment system for perioperative outcomes, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted to calculate the area under the curve (AUC) to predict its efficacy. [Results] Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that tumor size (β=6.14, 95%CI: 1.93—10.34, P=0.004), exophytic rate (β=10.60, 95%CI: 3.44—17.76, P=0.004), and perinephric fat thickness (β=16.48, 95%CI: 8.52—24.45, P<0.001) were significantly associated with operation time.Tumor size (β=10.55 95%CI: 5.60—15.49, P<0.001) was associated with both intraoperative blood loss and trifecta achievement (OR=1.73, 95%CI: 1.26—2.36, P=0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis of these 3 factors identified tumor size (OR=9.07, 95% CI: 1.18—69.45, P=0.03) and perinephric fat thickness (OR=2.28, 95%CI: 1.86—6.04, P=0.01) as independent predictors of perioperative outcomes.Based on these findings, the tumor size and perinephric fat thickness (RP) scoring was constructed, which demonstrated better predictive ability than RENAL score or MAP score alone (RP vs.RENAL vs.MAP: 0.766 vs.0.548 vs.0.684). [Conclusion] The RP score includes fewer variables than the RENAL and MAP scores but outperforms them.
5.Development of a new paradigm for precision diagnosis and treatment in traditional Chinese medicine
Jingnian NI ; Mingqing WEI ; Ting LI ; Jing SHI ; Wei XIAO ; Jing CHENG ; Bin CONG ; Boli ZHANG ; Jinzhou TIAN
Journal of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;48(1):43-47
The development of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) diagnosis and treatment has undergone multiple paradigms, evolving from sporadic experiential practices to systematic approaches in syndrome differentiation and treatment and further integration of disease and syndrome frameworks. TCM is a vital component of the medical system, valued alongside Western medicine. Treatment based on syndrome differentiation embodies both personalized treatment and holistic approaches; however, the inconsistency and lack of stability in syndrome differentiation limit clinical efficacy. The existing integration of diseases and syndromes primarily relies on patchwork and embedded systems, where the full advantages of synergy between Chinese and Western medicine are not fully realized. Recently, driven by the development of diagnosis and treatment concepts and advances in analytical technology, Western medicine has been rapidly transforming from a traditional biological model to a precision medicine model. TCM faces a similar need to progress beyond traditional syndrome differentiation and disease-syndrome integration toward a more precise diagnosis and treatment paradigm. Unlike the micro-level precision trend of Western medicine, precision diagnosis and treatment in TCM is primarily reflected in data-driven applications that incorporate information at various levels, including precise syndrome differentiation, medication, disease management, and efficacy evaluation. The current priority is to accelerate the development of TCM precision diagnosis and treatment technology platforms and advance discipline construction in this area.
6.Evaluation of operation quality of measles surveillance system in Hebei Province in 2020 - 2023
Shiheng CUI ; Xiaomeng XU ; Li SUN ; Yafei WANG ; Wei WANG ; Yanli CONG ; Jinghui WANG
Journal of Public Health and Preventive Medicine 2025;36(2):26-29
Objective To analyze the operation of Measles Surveillance System (MSS) in Hebei Province, and to provide evidence for measles elimination. Methods Measles surveillance data was collected from the MSS from 2020 to 2023, and a modified weighted technology for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution (TOPSIS) method was used to evaluate the surveillance indexes of measles in Hebei Province. Results The operation quality of the measles surveillance system in Hebei Province was improved year by year, with the highest quality in 2023, and all the indicators reached the monitoring program standards. The quality of measles surveillance system was not balanced among cities, and the main influencing factor was the substandard sensitivity indicators. The quality of measles surveillance system was the highest in Baoding City and the lowest in Zhangjiakou City. Conclusion The measles surveillance system in Hebei province is running well, and the sensitivity of the surveillance system should be improved to keep the high-quality operation of the surveillance system.
7.Establishment of a Gastrointestinal-Brain Inter-Organ Multimodal Characterization System Based on Traditional Chinese Medicine Theory and Its Application in Refractory Diseases
Guanghui HAN ; Yan GUO ; Peijing RONG ; Bin CONG ; Shuangjiang LIU ; Shaoyuan LI ; Wei WEI
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(6):561-568
The concept of holism is the core idea of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Various organs and tissues coordinate with each other to maintain the body's life activities, with a close and mutual influence between the spleen, stomach, and the central nervous system (brain). The gut-brain axis plays an important bridging role between the digestive system and the central nervous system, achieving bidirectional information exchange between the brain and the gastrointestinal tract through complex neuroendocrine and immune mechanisms. The theory of cross-organ interaction involves the mutual influence, coordination, and integration between different organs and systems; multimodality, on the other hand, utilizes multiple sensory modalities, such as vision, hearing, and touch, to convey information. By combining TCM theory with the gut-brain axis theory, a cross-organ multimodal characterization system is established to explore its mechanism and application value in refractory diseases such as functional gastrointestinal disorders, precancerous gastrointestinal diseases, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and depression.
8.Mechanism of Buzhong Yiqitang in Repairing Brain Developmental Abnormalities in Offspring of Pregnant Rats with Subclinical Hypothyroidism
Yan MA ; Xiaojiao LYU ; Yangling HUANG ; Xiande MA ; Tianshu GAO ; Peiwei CONG ; Wei CHEN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(16):24-34
ObjectiveTo evaluate the pharmacological effect of Buzhong Yiqitang on brain development in offspring of rats with subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) during pregnancy and explore its potential mechanism. MethodsForty-eight SPF female SD rats were divided into sham operation group (n=8) and model group (n=40). The rat model of subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) was constructed by total thyroidectomy combined with postoperative subcutaneous injection of levothyroxine (L-T4). The modeled rats were randomly allocated into model, low-, medium-, and high-dose (5.58, 11.16, 22.32 g∙kg-1, respectively) Buzhong Yiqitang, and euthyrox (4.5×10-6 g∙kg-1) groups, with 8 rats in each group. These rats were co-housed with normal male rats for mating. Drug administration started 2 weeks before pregnancy and continued until delivery. Hematoxylin-eosin staining and Golgi-cox staining were used to observe pathological changes in the hippocampal tissue of offspring rats. Western blot was employed to detect the effects of Buzhong Yiqitang on the protein levels of cytochrome C oxidase subunitⅠ (COX)Ⅰ and COXⅣ in the hippocampal tissue of offspring rats. A colorimetric method was used to measure the mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content in the hippocampal tissue of offspring rats. For in vitro experiments, a hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced oxidative damage model was established with rat pheochromocytoma cells (PC12). Interventions included the DNA methyltransferase inhibitor (SGI-1027), Buzhong Yiqitang-medicated serum, and euthyrox-medicated serum. The cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was used to examine the effect of Buzhong Yiqitang on cell proliferation. Immunofluorescence staining was performed to evaluate the effect on tubulin beta 3 class Ⅲ (TUBB3) in PC12 cells. Western blot was employed to assess the effects on the protein levels of DNA methyltransferases (TETs and DNMTs) in PC12 cells. The fluorescent probe 2′,7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA), luciferase assay, and JC-1 staining were employed to assess the effects of Buzhong Yiqitang on the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and ATP and the mitochondrial membrane potential in PC12 cells. ResultsCompared with the sham group, the model group showed a reduction in the number of hippocampal neurons, incomplete pyramidal cell bodies, loose arrangement, shortened average dendrite length, decreased dendritic complexity and dendritic spine density, and reduced expression levels of COXⅠ and COXⅣ and content of ATP in the brain tissue (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, after administration of Buzhong Yiqitang and euthyrox, hippocampal neurons exhibited regular arrangement, complete morphology, extended dendrite, increased dendritic complexity and dendritic spine density, and restored expression levels of COXⅠ and COXⅣ and content of ATP (P<0.05, P<0.01), with the medium-dose Buzhong Yiqitang group showing the best therapeutic effect. In the PC12 cell model of oxidative damage, Buzhong Yiqitang increased the cell viability (P<0.01), enhanced neuronal differentiation, down-regulated the expression levels of DNMTs (P<0.05), up-regulated the expression levels of TETs (P<0.05), decreased the ROS content (P<0.01), and restored the ATP content and mitochondrial membrane potential (P<0.01). ConclusionBuzhong Yiqitang protects brain development in offspring of pregnant rats with SCH. It mainly acts on the oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction resulted from abnormal mtDNA methylation, with DNMTs and TETs as the key proteins for its effects.
9.Mechanism of Shengmaisan Regulating Cardiac Remodeling of Arrhythmias with Deficiency of Qi and Yin
Jingheng WEI ; Xiaolu SHI ; Wei YANG ; Cong HUANG ; Mengru SHI ; Runhao MA ; Mingjie SUN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(4):248-259
Arrhythmia is an important disease among cardiovascular diseases. Malignant arrhythmias often occur clinically and are induced by abnormal ion channels, electrical activity disorders, myocardial fibrosis, inflammation, dysfunctional mitochondrial biogenesis, mitochondrial calcium overload, out-of-balance energy metabolism, oxidative stress, sympathetic hyperactivity, and other pathological cardiac remodeling, and they are the main causes of sudden cardiac death. In traditional Chinese medicine, arrhythmias are considered to be palpitations, which are commonly caused by deficiency of Qi and Yin. It is often manifested as a deficiency of the spleen and stomach, resulting in malfunction of the Qi mechanism, followed by a particularly severe decline in cardiac function. Shengmaisan is a representative formula for nourishing Qi and Yin, consisting of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, Ophiopogonis Radix, and Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus. In recent years, clinical studies have shown that Shengmaisan and its additions and subtractions are commonly used in the treatment of arrhythmias. In this article, the mechanisms of the active ingredients of Shengmaisan in the electrophysiology, biochemistry, structure, autonomic nervous system, and subcellular fraction of the heart are reviewed, and the multi-target, multi-system, and integrality of Shengmaisan in the treatment of arrhythmias of Qi and Yin deficiency are described. In addition, energy metabolism disorder is tightly juxtaposed with Qi and Yin deficiency syndrome. Mitochondria, as the center of myocardial energy metabolism, play a paramount role in cardiac remodeling, indicating that Shengmaisan will be a salient part of future research to ameliorate cardiac pathologic remodeling through energy metabolism of mitochondria, so as to provide a theoretical basis for the clinical treatment of these arrhythmias.
10.Formulation and technology of oxymatrine-astragaloside IV coloaded liposomes based on quality by design
Liang-yin WEI ; Xia LI ; Hong WANG ; Lin-qing HUANG ; Cong-yan LIU ; Yan CHEN
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2024;59(1):232-242
To optimize the formulation and technology of oxymatrine-astragaloside IV coloaded liposomes (Om-As-Lip) based on quality by design (QbD) principles, and further to verify the feasibility of its amplification process, Om-As-Lip was prepared by ethanol injection combined with pH gradient method. The critical material attributions of Om-As-Lip were evaluated by dual-risk analysis tools and Plackett-Burman design (PBD). The formulation of Om-As-Lip was further optimized with the Box-Behnken design (BBD). The design space was also established based on the contour plots of BBD. In order to further investigate the amplification process of Om-As-Lip, the critical process parameters of high-pressure homogenization (HPH) were optimized by single-factor test, and the quality of the final product was also evaluated. The results of risk analysis and PBD confirmed that the astragaloside concentration, cholesterol concentration, and phospholipid ratio (HSPC∶SPC) were the ctitical material attributes. The model established by BBD had a good predictability, and the optimized mass ratio of As to phospholipids was 1∶40, cholesterol to phospholipids was 1∶10, HSPC to SPC was 51∶9. The design space of Om-As-Lip was as follows: the ratio of cholesterol to phospholipids was 1∶12-1∶5 and HSPC to SPC was 1∶7-17∶3. The optimized high-pressure homogenization pressure was 600 bar, temperature was 4 ℃, and cycle times was 6 times for HPH-Om-As-Lip. The quality of Om-As-Lip prepared based on the QbD concept can meet the expected CQAs, and the formulation and technology established can provide a reliable experimental basis for its future development and applications.


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