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.

Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） offers a rich theoretical foundation and clinical experience for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome（CKM）， demonstrating unique advantage. Building on previous work in managing diabetes， its complications， and chronic kidney disease， our team has proposed a five-phase evolution theory of "constraint， heat， deficiency， stasis， and toxin" as the core pathogenesis. These phases correspond to the pathological progression of constraint of phlegm-dampness， constraint transforming into heat， heat damaging qi and yin， stasis accumulated in the collateral vessels， and toxin induced by deficiency and stasis. In the prevention and treatment of CKM by TCM， it is emphasized to integrate the concept of "treating disease before it arises" with constitution theory， and incorporate the "2-5-8" prevention and treatment strategy， which combines prevention with treatment， tailors interventions to different phases， and employs comprehensive treatment modalities. Our goal is to leverage TCM's holistic advantages in preventing and treating CKM.

Objective:To analyze the predictive value of von Willebrand factor (vWF) for venous thromboembolism (VTE) of patients in intensive care unit (ICU) by using propensity score matching (PSM).Methods:Patients admitted to ICU of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University from December 2020 to June 2022 who stayed in ICU for ≥72 hours and underwent daily bedside vascular ultrasound screening were included. Baseline data such as age, gender, primary disease, and chronic comorbidities were collected. Coagulation indexes before admission to ICU and 24 hours and 48 hours after ICU admission were collected, including prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), thrombin time (TT), international normalized ratio (INR), fibrinogen (Fib), fibrin monomer (FM), vWF, D-dimer, antithrombin Ⅲ (ATⅢ), etc. Patients were divided into VTE group and non-VTE group according to whether they had VTE or not [diagnosis of VTE: patients underwent daily ultrasound screening of bedside blood vessels (both upper and lower limbs, visceral veins), and those suspected of having thrombosis were confirmed by ultrasonographer or pulmonary angiography]. Using PSM analysis method, the VTE group was used as the benchmark to conduct 1 : 1 matching of age, whether there was malignant tumor, whether there was infection, whether there was diabetes, and coagulation indicators before admission to ICU. Finally, the cases with balanced covariates between the two groups were obtained. The risk factors of VTE were analyzed by multivariate Logistic regression analysis. Receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC curve) was drawn to evaluate the predictive value of vWF in the occurrence of VTE in critically ill patients.Results:A total of 120 patients were enrolled, of which 18 (15.0%) were diagnosed with VTE within 72 hours after admission to ICU, and 102 (85.0%) were not found to have thrombus in ICU. Before PSM, there were significant differences in age, gender, proportion of malignant tumor and infection, and coagulation indexes between VTE group and non-VTE group. After PSM, 14 pairs were successfully matched, and the unbalanced covariables between the two groups reached equilibrium. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that vWF was an independent risk factor for VTE at 48 hours after ICU admission in critically ill patients [odds ratio ( OR) = 1.165, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was 1.000-1.025, P = 0.004]. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the ROC curve (AUC) of vWF at 48 hours after ICU admission for predicting VTE was 0.782, 95% CI was 0.618-0.945, P = 0.007. When the optimal cut-off value was 312.12%, the sensitivity was 67.7% and the specificity was 93.0%. Conclusion:Dynamic monitoring of vWF is helpful to predict the occurrence of VTE in ICU patients, and vWF at 48 hours after ICU admission has certain value in predicting the occurrence of VTE.

ObjectiveTo explore and verify the key pathway of Zuogui Jiangtang Jieyu prescription in the treatment of diabetes with depression by means of gene set enrichment analysis （GSEA） and short time-series expression miner （STEM）. MethodSD rats were randomly divided into six groups， including a normal group， a model group， high， medium， and low dose groups of Zuogui Jiangtang Jieyu prescription， and a positive drug group. The model of diabetes with depression was established by high-fat feeding， streptozotocin （STZ） injection， and chronic mild unpredictable stress. The high， medium， and low dose groups of Zuogui Jiangtang Jieyu prescription were orally administered at 20.52， 10.26， and 5.13 g·kg^-1 respectively. The positive drug group was orally administered 0.18 g·kg^-1 metformin and 1.8 g·kg^-1 fluoxetine. The rats in the normal group and model group were administered with an equal volume of distilled water. After 28 days， the animals were tested for depressive-like behaviors and cognitive function using the forced swimming test and Morris water maze. Fasting blood glucose was measured using blood glucose test strips. Cholesterol and triglyceride levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Three hippocampus samples were randomly selected from the normal group， the model group， the high dose group of Zuogui Jiangtang Jieyu prescription for high-throughput transcriptome sequencing. Differential gene analysis， GSEA analysis， and STEM analysis were used to screen the key pathways and target genes of Zuogui Jiangtang Jieyu prescription in the treatment of diabetes with depression. Key target genes were validated using real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR （Real-time PCR）. The expression of the signal protein mediated by the target genes was detected by Western blot. ResultCompared with the results in the normal group， the fasting blood glucose， cholesterol， and triglyceride levels in the model group were significantly increased （P<0.01）. Moreover， the immobility time in the forced swimming test was significantly increased， while the time to climb the platform was significantly prolonged， and the search distance in the target quadrant was significantly reduced in the Morris water maze test （P<0.05，P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the high dose of Zuogui Jiangtang Jieyu prescription significantly reduced the levels of blood glucose， cholesterol， and triglycerides in rats with diabetes with depression （P<0.05，P<0.01）， reduced the immobility time in the forced swimming test， shortened the stage time in the Morris water maze test， and increased the search distance ratio in the target area （P<0.05，P<0.01）. Transcriptome sequencing differential analysis showed that the normal group had 1 366 differentially expressed genes compared to the model group， while the model group had 1 149 differentially expressed genes compared to the high dose group of Zuogui Jiangtang Jieyu prescription， with 581 intersecting genes. The GSEA results showed that there were 9 sets of differentially expressed genes between the normal group and the model group， and 43 sets of differentially expressed genes between the model group and the high dose group of Zuogui Jiangtang Jieyu prescription， with 7 intersecting gene sets. STEM analysis showed that according to the analysis order of the normal group， model group， and high dose group of Zuogui Jiangtang Jieyu prescription， two significantly different trend clustering groups were obtained. One key gene set for axonal guidance， as well as key target signal elements Sema3c， Sema7a， Robo3， Epha8， and Epha7， were identified through synthesizing the three analysis results. Real-time PCR validated that compared with the results in the normal group， the mRNA expression of Robo3， Sema7a， and Epha7 in the hippocampus of the model rats was significantly reduced （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the high dose of Zuogui Jiangtang Jieyu prescription significantly increased the mRNA expression of Robo3， Sema7a， and Epha7 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Western blot results showed that compared with the results in the normal group， the Sema7a， ITGB1， and FAK protein expression in the hippocampus of the model group was significantly reduced （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the high dose of Zuogui Jiangtang Jieyu prescription significantly increased the protein expression of Sema7a， ITGB1， and FAK in the hippocampus （P<0.05，P<0.01）. ConclusionZuogui Jiangtang Jieyu prescription may treat diabetes with depression by regulating axonal guidance based on the Sema7a/ITGB1 signaling pathway.

Stomach exuberance and spleen deficiency are common pathogenesis of many metabolic diseases. Through analyzing the pathogenesis of stomach exuberance and spleen deficiency， it is believed that its essence is stomach heat and spleen deficiency. Stomach heat includes gastrointestinal heat， spleen and stomach damp-heat， and spleen deficiency is divided into deficiency of spleen yin， deficiency of spleen qi ， and deficiency of spleen yang. It is suggested that the metabolic diseases of stomach-exuberance and spleen-deficiency syndrome can be divided into three categories，i.e. stomach-heat and spleen yin-deficiency， stomach-heat and spleen qi-deficiency， and stomach-heat and spleen yang-deficiency， and the main treatment methods are clearing and draining heat， nourishing yin and moistening intestine， clearing dampness and heat， strengthening spleen and qi， clearing dampness and heat， strengthening spleen and warming yang， respectively， with prescriptions as Maziren Pills （麻子仁丸）， Qinlian Pingwei Powder （芩连平胃散）， and Jiawei Lianli Decoction （加味连理汤） accordingly.

Objective: To explore and validate the potential targets of Paeoniae Radix Alba (P. Radix, Bai Shao) in protecting against chemical liver injury through network pharmacology, molecular docking technology, and in vitro cell experiments. Methods: Network pharmacology was used to identify the common potential targets of P. Radix and chemical liver injury. Molecular docking was used to fit the components, which were subsequently verified in vitro. A cell model of hepatic fibrosis was established by activating hepatic stellate cell (HSC)-LX2 cells with 10 ng/mL transforming growth factor-β1. The cells were exposed to different concentrations of total glucosides of paeony (TGP), the active substance of P. Radix, and then evaluated using the cell counting kit-8 assay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and western blot. Results: Analysis through network pharmacology revealed 13 key compounds of P. Radix, and the potential targets for preventing chemical liver injury were IL-6, AKT serine/threonine kinase 1, jun proto-oncogene, heat shock protein 90 alpha family class A member 1 (HSP90AA1), peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARG), PTGS2, and CASP3. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis indicated the involvement of response to drugs, membrane rafts, and peptide binding. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis revealed that the main pathways involved lipid and atherosclerosis and chemical carcinogenesis-receptor activation. Paeoniflorin and albiflorin exhibited strong affinity for HSP90AA1, PTGS2, PPARG, and CASP3. Different concentrations of TGP can inhibit the expression of COL-Ⅰ, COL-Ⅲ, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β, HSP-90α, and PTGS2 while increasing the expression of PPAR-γ and CASP3 in activated HSC-LX2 cells. Conclusion P. Radix primarily can regulate targets such as HSP90AA1, PTGS2, PPARG, CASP3. TGP, the main active compound of P. Radix, protects against chemical liver injury by reducing the inflammatory response, activating apoptotic proteins, and promoting the apoptosis of activated HSCs.

ObjectiveTo explore the potential mechanism of Zuogui Jiangtang Jieyu Formula （左归降糖解郁方， ZJJF） for diabetic rats with depression. MethodsSixty rats were randomly divided into normal group， model group， wingless MMTV integration site family member 5a （Wnt5a） agonist group， ZJJF group， and ZJJF plus Wnt5a inhibitor group， with 12 rats in each group. Except for the normal group， the rats were fed with high-fat chow， streptozotocin injection， and chronic mild unpredictable stress combination， to establish model of diabetes mellitus complicated with depression. After successful modelling， rats in the Wnt5a agonist group were given bilateral hippocampal stereotactic injections of Wnt5a agonist Foxy-5 with 5 μl each for 7 consecutive days； rats in ZJJF group were given 20.52 g/（kg·d） of ZJJF by gavage； rats in ZJJF plus Wnt5a inhibitor group were given the drug by gavage， and bilateral hippocampal stereotactic injections of Wnt5a inhibitors Box5， with the same dosage and injection method as above. The normal group and model group were given 10 ml/（kg·d） of normal saline by gavage. All groups were gavaged for 4 consecutive weeks. At the end of the intervention， the depression-like behaviour of rats was evaluated using the forced swimming experiment （immobility time） and the absent field experiment （number of activities）； the blood glucose and insulin levels of rats were measured and the insulin resistance index was calculated； the dendritic morphology of dentate gyrus neurons in the hippocampus was observed using Golgi staining； the level of dentate gyrus neuron proliferation was measured using 5-bromodeoxyuracil nucleoside （Brdu） injection and immunofluorescence； RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression of Wnt5a， Ras homologue genomic member A （RhoA） and Rho homologue-associated coiled-coil protein kinase 1 （ROCK1） in the dentate gyrus. ResultsCompared with the normal group， rats in the model group had significantly higher blood glucose， insulin and insulin resistance indices， longer immobility time， fewer activities， lower Brdu integral optical density values and Wnt5a， RhoA， ROCK1 protein and mRNA expression in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus （P＜0.05 or P＜ 0.01）； the dendritic branches of rat hippocampal dentate gyrus neurons could be seen to be significantly reduced or broken， and their length shortened. Compared with the model group， the blood glucose， insulin and insulin resistance indices of rats in ZJJF group and the ZJJF plus Wnt5a inhibitor group significantly reduced （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）； the immobility time of rats in the Wnt5a agonist group and ZJJF group was significantly shortened， the number of activities increased， the Brdu integral optical density values elevated， and the Wnt5a， RhoA， ROCK1 protein and mRNA expression elevated （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）， and the number of dendritic branches of hippocampal dentate gyrus neurons significantly increased， the length lengthened， and the complexity of dendrites increased. Compared with the Wnt5a agonist group， rats in the ZJJF group showed significant decrease in blood glucose， insulin and insulin resistance indices， prolongation of immobilisation time， reduction in the number of activities， and reduction in the Brdu integral optical density value； except for the Wnt5a mRNA in ZJJF group， Wnt5a， RhoA， ROCK1 protein and mRNA expression reduced in both ZJJF group and ZJJF plus Wnt5a inhibitor group （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Compared with ZJJF group， Wnt5a， RhoA， ROCK1 protein and mRNA expression were reduced in ZJJF plus Wnt5a inhibitor group （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. ConclusionZJJF can improve hyperglycemia and depressive-like behaviours in rat models of diabetes with depression， and its antidepressant effects may be related to the activation of hippocampal Wnt5a/RhoA signaling and promotion of dentate gyrus neuron dendritic growth.

The theory of "linkage between spleen and small intestine" has been put forward by doctors as early as the Ming dynasty. In traditional Chinese medicine， the spleen and small intestine cooperate and work together physiologically， and they are also closely related and interact with each other pathologically. The spleen governs transportation and transformation， which involves the function of the small intestine in transforming water and grain. The small intestine， governing the receiving and transformation of substances， depends on the normal transportation of the spleen. At the same time， it provides guarantee for the spleen to transform Qi and generate blood as well as ascend lucidity and descend turbidity. The dysfunction of spleen in transportation is closely related to the dysfunction of small intestine. The stability of intestinal microecology necessitates the normal functioning of the spleen. When the original balance of intestinal flora is disturbed， the spleen functioning will be affected. This study explored the pathogenesis and treatment of diabetes based on the physiological functions of the spleen and small intestine and the Western medicine targets of "nutrients-intestinal flora". According to modern medicine， nutrients are essential to maintain the normal physiological activities of the human body. Proper intake of nutrients can affect the absorption and metabolism of the human body for nutrients by regulating the composition and function of intestinal flora， so as to prevent the occurrence of diabetes. The imbalance of intestinal flora which harbors rich microorganisms may lead to the disturbance of energy metabolism and the dysfunction of the immune system， eventually leading to diabetes. As a metabolic disease， diabetes is closely related to the imbalance of intestinal flora and nutrient intake. Based on the theory of "linkage between spleen and small intestine"， this paper discusses the relationship between spleen and small intestine. Furthermore， this paper discusses the correlation between "spleen-small intestine" and "nutrients-intestinal flora" by reviewing the latest progress in modern medicine and clinical research， aiming to provide a theoretical basis and new ideas for the clinical prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Objective We aimed to study the protective effect of total glucosides of paeony (TGP) on chemical liver injury with pattern of liver yin deficiency in rats and determine whether it exerts these effects through the phosphoinositide 3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway.Methods Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the following four groups: (i) the blank group, (ii) the model group, (iii) the Yiguan Jian group, and (iv) the TGP group (10 rats per group). For 6 weeks, rats in all groups except for the blank group were injected intraperitoneally with 20％ carbon tetrachloride olive oil solution and were given thyroid tablets (30mg/kg) by gavage in order to establish the model of chemical liver injury with pattern of liver yin deficiency. During the modeling period, rats in the blank and model groups were gavaged daily with distilled water, while rats in the Yiguan Jian group and the TGP group were gavaged with 635mg/kg of Yiguan Jian decoction and 50mg/kg of TGP suspension, respectively. During the administration period, the body weight and rectal temperature of rats were measured every 2 weeks. After the administration, 24-hour food intake, 24-hour water intake, and moisture capacity in tongue surface were recorded. Serum cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) contents were measured by ELISA and the cAMP/cGMP ratio was calculated. Changes in the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alanine transaminase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin (TBIL), and total bile acids (TBA) were detected using colorimetric method. Masson staining was performed to observe the degree of liver fibrosis and to calculate the relative collagen area. Real-time PCR and Western blotting were conducted to determine the PI3K, AKT, and mTOR mRNA and protein expression levels in rat liver.Results Compared with the blank group, rats in the model group had a lower body weight at weeks 2, 4, and 6, a higher rectal temperature at weeks 2, 4, and 6, and a higher 24-hour food intake; the cAMP level was elevated, the cGMP level was decreased, and the cAMP/cGMP ratio was elevated; the contents of IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α were elevated, and the contents of IL-10 and IL-1Ra were decreased; ALT, AST, γ-GT, ALP, TBIL, and TBA levels were elevated; the percentage of collagen area in the liver was increased; and the mRNA and protein phosphorylation levels of PI3K, AKT, and mTOR were elevated ( P<0.05). Compared with the model group, rats in the TGP group showed a decrease in rectal temperature at weeks 2, 4, and 6, a decrease in 24-hour food intake and water intake, and an increase in the moisture capacity in tongue surface; rats in the Yiguan Jian and TGP groups showed a decrease in cAMP, an increase in cGMP, and a decrease in the cAMP/cGMP, the contents of IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α were decreased and the content of IL-10 was increased, the percentage of collagen area in the liver was decreased; ALT, AST, γ-GT, ALP, and TBIL levels were decreased in the TGP group, and PI3K, AKT, and mTOR were downregulated at the mRNA and protein levels(P<0.05).Conclusion TGP has a good protective effect on chemical liver injury with pattern of liver yin deficiency in rats. TGP may regulate the balance of yin and yang by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, reducing the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and increasing the release of anti-inflammatory cytokines.

Objective We aimed to investigate(i)the preventive and therapeutic effects of Huogu Muli Prescription(HGMLP),a Chinese medical compound consisting of epimedii folium,drynariae rhizoma,and ostreae concha,on postmenopausal osteoporosis(PMOP)rats and(ii)whether it exerts its effects by regulating the osteoclast-osteogenesis balance.Methods Forty-eight female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the following six groups:(i)the sham-operated group,(ii)the model group,(iii)the Qianggu Capsule group,(iv)the calcium carbonate group,and(v,vi)the HGMLP low-dose and high-dose groups(n = 8 rats per group).After adaptive feeding,rats in all groups except the sham-operated group were treated with bilateral ovarian castration to establish the PMOP model.Each day,rats in the Qianggu Capsule group received 0.054 g/kg Qianggu Capsule suspension intragastrically,rats in the calcium carbonate group received 1.670 g/kg calcium carbonate suspension intragastrically,and rats in the HGMLP low-dose and high-dose groups received 0.188 g/kg and 0.375 g/kg HGMLP intragastrically.Rats in the sham-operated group and the model group received an equal volume of normal saline intragastrically.After 90 consecutive days,serum estradiol(E2),estrogen receptor α(ERα),procollagen typeⅠN propeptide(PINP),and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b(TRACP-5b)were detected by ELISA.Total antioxidant capacity(T-AOC),superoxide dismutase(SOD),catalase(CAT),and malondialdehyde(MDA)levels were measured by colorimetry.Bone mineral density(BMD),trabecular number(Tb.N),trabecular separation/spacing(Tb.Sp),trabecular thickness(Tb.Th),and structure model index(SMI)were measured by Micro-CT,and the microstructure of cancellous bone was observed.The expressions of osteoprotegerin(OPG),receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB(RANK),RANK ligand(RANKL),phosphorylation of forkhead box O3(FoxO3α),Wnt2,β-catenin,and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ(PPARγ)in rat femur tissue were detected by Western blotting.Results(i)The serum levels of E2 and ERα increased in the Qianggu Capsule group and HGMLP groups,compared with the model group(all P<0.05).(ii)Compared with the model group,the serum levels of PINP,TRACP-5b decreased and PINP/TRACP-5b increased in both the Qianggu Capsule group and HGMLP high-dose group(all P<0.05).(iii)The activities of T-AOC,AOD,and CAT in the Qianggu Capsule group and HGMLP groups were higher than those in the model group,while the content of MDA lower(all P<0.05).(iv)Compared with the model group,the femoral BMD,Tb.Th,and Tb.N increased in the Qianggu Capsule group and HGMLP groups,while the femoral Tb.Sp and SMI decreased(all P<0.05);the femoral BMD increased and the Tb.Sp decreased in the calcium carbonate group(all P<0.05).(v)The protein expressions of RANKL,RANK,FoxO3α,and PPARγ in the Qianggu Capsule group and HGMLP groups were lower than those in the model group,while the protein expressions of OPG,Wnt2,and β-catenin were higher(all P<0.05).Conclusion HGMLP can significantly increase estrogen levels,inhibit osteoclast differentiation,and inhibit bone resorption in the PMOP rats.It also alleviates oxidative stress,promotes osteogenic differentiation,inhibits lipogenic differentiation,improves bone formation,and recovers the balance between osteoclasts and osteoblasts,thus achieving prevention and treatment of PMOP.The potential mechanism of HGMLP may be related to regulation via the OPG/RANKL/RANK or FoxO3α/Wnt2/β-catenin/PPARγ pathways.