The zebrafish model has attracted much attention due to its strong reproductive ability, short research cycle, and ease of maintenance. It has always been an important vertebrate model system, often used to carry out human disease research. Its motor behavior features have the advantages of being simpler, more intuitive, and quantifiable. In recent years, it has received widespread attention in the study of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)for the treatment of sleep disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, fatigue, epilepsy, and other diseases. This paper reviews the characteristics of zebrafish motor behavior and its applications in the pharmacodynamic verification and mechanism research of TCM extracts, active ingredients, and TCM compounds, as well as in active ingredient screening and safety evaluation. The paper also analyzes its advantages and disadvantages, with the aim of improving the breadth and depth of zebrafish and its motor behavior applications in the field of TCM research.
Zebrafish/physiology* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical/methods* ; Animals ; Sleep Wake Disorders/physiopathology* ; Epilepsy/physiopathology* ; Neurodegenerative Diseases/physiopathology* ; Fatigue/physiopathology* ; Behavior, Animal/physiology* ; Motor Activity/physiology*

Kidney-Yang deficiency syndrome is a common geriatric disease that underlies chronic conditions such as diabetic nephropathy, chronic kidney disease, and osteoporosis. As age progresses, the kidney-Yang deficiency syndrome showcases increasingly pronounced manifestations, emerging as a key factor in the comorbidities experienced by elderly patients and affecting their quality of life and overall health status. Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) has been extensively utilized in the treatment of kidney-Yang deficiency syndrome, with Epimedii Folium, Cinnamomi Cortex, and Lycii Fructus widely used in clinical settings. Despite the complexity of the molecular mechanisms involved in treating kidney-Yang deficiency syndrome, the potential therapeutic value of TCM remains compelling. Delving into the mechanisms of TCM treatment of kidney-Yang deficiency syndrome by regulating the neuro-endocrine-immune system can provide a scientific basis for targeted treatments of this syndrome and lay a foundation for the modernization of TCM. The pathophysiology of kidney-Yang deficiency syndrome involves multiple systems, including the interaction of the neuro-endocrine-immune system, the decline in renal function, the intensification of oxidative stress responses, and energy metabolism disorders. Understanding these mechanisms and their interrelationships can help untangle the etiology of kidney-Yang deficiency syndrome, aiding clinicians in making more precise diagnoses and treatments. Furthermore, the research on the specific applications of TCM in research on these pathological mechanisms can enhance the international recognition and status of TCM, enabling it to exert a greater global influence.
Humans ; Yang Deficiency/physiopathology* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Kidney Diseases/physiopathology* ; Neurosecretory Systems/physiopathology* ; Animals ; Kidney/physiopathology* ; Endocrine System/physiopathology* ; Immune System/physiopathology*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the therapeutic efficacy of cinnamaldehyde (CA) on systemic Candida albicans infection in mice and to provide supportive data for the development of novel antifungal drugs. METHODS: Ninety BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 3 groups according to a random number table: CA treatment group, fluconazole (positive control) group, and Tween saline (negative control) group, with 30 mice in each group. Initially, all groups of mice received consecutive intraperitoneal injections of cyclophosphamide at 200 mg/kg for 2 days, followed by intraperitoneal injection of 0.25 mL C. albicans fungal suspension (concentration of 1.0 × 10⁷ CFU/mL) on the 4th day, to establish an immunosuppressed systemic Candida albicans infection animal model. Subsequently, the mice were orally administered CA, fluconazole and Tween saline, at 240, 240 mg/kg and 0.25 mL/kg respectively for 14 days. After a 48-h discontinuation of treatment, the liver, small intestine, and kidney tissues of mice were collected for fungal direct microscopic examination, culture, and histopathological examination. Additionally, renal tissues from each group of mice were collected for (1,3)- β -D-glucan detection. The survival status of mice in all groups was monitored for 14 days of drug administration. RESULTS: The CA group exhibited a fungal clearance rate of C. albicans above 86.7% (26/30), significantly higher than the fluconazole group (60.0%, 18/30, P<0.01) and the Tween saline group (30.0%, 9/30, P<0.01). Furthermore, histopathological examination in the CA group revealed the disappearance of inflammatory cells and near-normal restoration of tissue structure. The (1,3)-β-D-glucan detection value in the CA group (860.55 ± 126.73 pg/mL) was significantly lower than that in the fluconazole group (1985.13 ± 203.56 pg/mL, P<0.01) and the Tween saline group (5910.20 ± 320.56 pg/mL, P<0.01). The mouse survival rate reached 90.0% (27/30), higher than the fluconazole group (60.0%, 18/30) and the Tween saline group (30.0%, 9/30), with a significant difference between the two groups (both P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS CA treatment exhibited significant therapeutic efficacy in mice with systemic C. albicans infection. Therefore, CA holds potential as a novel antifungal agent for targeted treatment of C. albicans infection.
Animals ; Acrolein/pharmacology* ; Candida albicans/physiology* ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Candidiasis/pathology* ; Antifungal Agents/therapeutic use* ; Mice ; Fluconazole/therapeutic use* ; Kidney/drug effects* ; Female

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Shexiang Tongxin Dropping Pill (STDP) in treating stable angina patients with phlegm-heat and blood-stasis syndrome by exercise duration and metabolic equivalents. METHODS: This multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial enrolled stable angina patients with phlegm-heat and blood-stasis syndrome from 22 hospitals. They were randomized 1:1 to STDP (35 mg/pill, 6 pills per day) or placebo for 56 days. The primary outcome was the exercise duration and metabolic equivalents (METs) assessed by the standard Bruce exercise treadmill test after 56 days of treatment. The secondary outcomes included the total angina symptom score, Chinese medicine (CM) symptom scores, Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) scores, changes in ST-T on electrocardiogram and adverse events (AEs). RESULTS: This trial enrolled 309 patients, including 155 and 154 in the STDP and placebo groups, respectively. STDP significantly prolonged exercise duration with an increase of 51.0 s, compared to a decrease of 12.0 s with placebo (change rate: -11.1% vs. 3.2%, P<0.01). The increase in METs was significantly greater in the STDP group than in the placebo group (change: -0.4 vs. 0.0, change rate: -5.0% vs. 0.0%, P<0.01). The improvement of total angina symptom scores (25.0% vs. 0.0%), CM symptom scores (38.7% vs. 11.8%), reduction of nitroglycerin consumption (100.0% vs. 11.3%), and all domains of SAQ, were significantly greater with STDP than placebo (all P<0.01). The changes in Q-T intervals at 28 and 56 days from baseline were similar between the two groups (both P>0.05). Twenty-five participants (16.3%) with STDP and 16 (10.5%) with placebo experienced AEs (P=0.131), with no serious AEs observed. CONCLUSION STDP could improve exercise tolerance in patients with stable angina and phlegm-heat and blood stasis syndrome, with a favorable safety profile. (Registration No. ChiCTR-IPR-15006020).
Humans ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/adverse effects* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Angina, Stable/physiopathology* ; Aged ; Syndrome ; Treatment Outcome ; Placebos ; Tablets

Objective To clarify the mechanism that HIV infection mediates mitochondrial damage of CD4⁺ T lymphocytes (CD4⁺ T cells) through mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. Methods From October 1st, 2022 to March 31st, 2023, 47 HIV-infected people who received antiretroviral therapy (ART) for 4 years were recruited, including 22 immune non-responders (INR) and 25 responders (IR); and 26 sex and age-matched control participants (HC) who were negative for HCV, HBV, and HIV infections. The immune parameters were analyzed by flow cytometry. Finally, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from HC or HIV patients were treated with MAPK pathway inhibitor SB203580, and the changes of mitochondrial function of CD4⁺ T cells were observed. Results Compared with HC group, the proportion of CD4⁺ T cells in PBMCs in INR group and IR group was significantly lower, and the proportion of CD4⁺ T cells in PBMCs in INR group was significantly lower than that in IR group. In addition, the proportion of naive (CD45RA⁺CD27⁺)T cells in PBMCs in INR group was significantly lower than that in HC group and IR group. Compared with HC group and IR group, the proportions of CD4⁺PD-1⁺, CD4⁺Av⁺ and CD4⁺MO⁺ in PBMCs in INR group and the proportions of CD45RA⁺CD27⁺PD-1⁺, CD45RA⁺CD27⁺Av⁺, CD45RA⁺CD27⁺MO⁺ in CD4⁺ T cell subsets increased significant. Compared with HC-con group, the basal respiration, maximal respiration and adenosine triphosphate(ATP) production of CD4⁺ T cells in HIV-con group decreased significantly, and JC-1 (green/red) in CD4⁺ T cells increased significantly. Compared with HIV-con group, the basal respiration, maximal respiration, ATP production and respiratory potential of CD4⁺ T cells in HIV-SB203580 group increased significantly, and the JC-1 (green/red) in CD4⁺ T cells decreased significantly. Conclusion Abnormal activation of the MAPK signaling pathway is observed in HIV patients receiving ART treatment, especially in CD4⁺ T cells of INR patients, which may lead to impaired mitochondrial function and abnormal CD4⁺ T cell homeostasis.
Humans ; HIV Infections/immunology* ; Male ; Mitochondria/drug effects* ; Female ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/metabolism* ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; MAP Kinase Signaling System/drug effects* ; Pyridines/pharmacology* ; Imidazoles/pharmacology* ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear/immunology*

Aim To investigate the effects of daidzeinDD on the proliferation and apoptosis of non-small cell lung cancer cells,with a focus on the possible role of the p53 signaling pathway in this regard. Methods CCK-8 method and flow cytometry were used to detect the effects of soy isoflavone crude extract and DD on the viability and apoptosis of HELF and H1299 cells. Gene microarray was used to detect the changes in gene expression after treatment of H1299 cells with DD. GSEA and differential analysis were used to screen the major pathways and key genes. RT-qPCR and Western blot were performed to verify the differences in mRNA and protein expression of key genesp53 and CASP9 in the major pathways. After p53 inhibitor Pifithrin-α inhibited the expression of p53,the effect of DD on p53 mRNA and protein expression levels was examined,and the proliferative effect on H1299 cells was observed. Results Soy isoflavone crude extract and DD promoted proliferation and inhibited apoptosis of normal lung cells and inhibited proliferation and promoted apoptosis of lung cancer cells. p53 signaling pathway was significantly enriched in the DD-treated groupNES=1.78,P=0.000,and the expressions of p53 and CASP9 genes were found to be significantly up-regulated in the treated group. Compared with the control group,mRNA expression of CASP9 and p53 significantly increased in both HELF and H1299 cells treated with DDP<0.05,and p53 protein expression also increased in HELF cellsP<0.05. After inhibition of p53 expression,DD significantly increased the mRNA expression of p53 in H1299 and HELF cellsP<0.05 and also markedly increased the expression of p53 protein in H1299 cellsP<0.05,and it was observed that DD inhibited the proliferation of lung cancer cells. Conclusions DD inhibits the proliferation and promotes the apoptosis of lung cancer H1299 cells,and the mechanism mainly involves the p53 signaling pathway.

Yiyi Fuzi Baijiang Powder(YFBP), originating from Synopsis of the Golden Chamber, is a classic prescription composed of Coicis Semen, Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata, and Patriniae Herba for the treatment of abscesses and pus discharge. This article presented a systematic analysis of the clinical application of YFBP, including the indicated diseases, the number of cases, efficacy, dosage, administration methods, and compatibility with other drugs. The analysis reveals that YFBP has a wide range of clinical applications. It is commonly used, often with modifications or in combination with western medicine, for diseases in the fields of gastroente-rology, gynecology, urology, dermatology, and others. And most of the Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) evidence involved in these diseases are damp-heat evudence. The prescription shows rich variations in clinical administration methods, and most of which are the treatment of aqueous decoction of it. The therapeutic effect is also significant, and the total effective rate of clinical treatment is re-latively high. Additionally, this article summarized the pharmacological research on YFBP and found that it possessed various pharmacological effects, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, and immune-modulating properties. Finally, correlation analysis was conducted on the main diseases, TCM types, prescription doses, pharmacological effects and action targets of YFBP, which to show the relationship between these five aspects in a visual form, reflecting the relationship between its clinical application and modern pharmacological effects. These findings provide a reference basis for further development and research on YFBP.
Powders ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Diterpenes ; Aconitum

Based on transcriptome sequencing technology, the mouse model of prediabetes treated with Huangjing Qianshi Decoction was sequenced to explore the possible mechanism of treating prediabetes. First of all, transcriptome sequencing was performed on the normal BKS-DB mouse group, the prediabetic model group, and the Huangjing Qianshi Decoction treatment group(treatment group) to obtain differentially expressed genes in the skeletal muscle samples of mice. The serum biochemical indexes were detected in each group to screen out the core genes of Huangjing Qianshi Decoction in prediabetes. Gene Ontology(GO) database and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) database were used to conduct signaling pathway enrichment analysis of differentially expressed genes, and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR) was used to verify them. The results showed that the levels of fasting blood glucose(FBG), fasting insulin(FINS), insulin resistance index(HOMA-IR), total cholesterol(TC), triglycerides(TG), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C) in the mouse model were significantly decreased after treatment with Huangjing Qianshi Decoction. In the results of differential gene screening, there were 1 666 differentially expressed genes in the model group as compared with the normal group, and there were 971 differentially expressed genes in the treatment group as compared with the model group. Among them, interleukin-6(IL-6) and NR3C2 genes, which were closely related to the regulation of insulin resis-tance function, were significantly up-regulated between the model group and the normal group, and vascular endothelial growth factor A(VEGFA) genes were significantly down-regulated between the model group and the normal group. However, the expression results of IL-6, NR3C2, and VEGFA genes were adverse between the treatment group and the model group. GO functional enrichment analysis found that the biological process annotation mainly focused on cell synthesis, cycle, and metabolism; cell component annotation mainly focused on organelles and internal components; and molecular function annotation mainly focused on binding molecular functions. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis found that it involved the protein tyrosine kinase 6(PTK6) pathway, CD28-dependent phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B(PI3K/AKT) pathway, p53 pathway, etc. Therefore, Huangjing Qianshi Decoction can improve the state of prediabetes, and the mechanism may be related to cell cycle and apoptosis, PI3K/AKT pathway, p53 pathway, and other biological pathways regulated by IL-6, NR3C2, and VEGFA.
Animals ; Mice ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; Prediabetic State ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; Interleukin-6 ; Transcriptome ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; Insulin ; Cholesterol

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship among the gross motor function classification system (GMFCS)and the development of hip joint and lumbar spine in children with spastic cerebral palsy. METHODS: The clinical data of 125 children with spastic cerebral palsy admitted from January 2018 to July 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 85 males and 40 females, aged from 4 to 12 years old with an average of (8.4±2.9) years. According to GMFCS, the patients were divided into gradeⅠ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ and Ⅳ groups. There were 27 cases in gradeⅠgroup, 40 cases in gradeⅡgroup, 35 cases in grade Ⅲ group and 23 cases in grade Ⅳ group. The migration percentage(MP), central edge angle(CE), neck-shaft angle(NSA), acetabular index(AI) were measured by the radiograph of pelvis, abnormal parameters were selected to evaluate the relationship between different GMFCS grades and hip joint development. Lumbar sagittal Cobb angle, lumbar sacral angle, lumbar lordosis index and apical distance were measured by lateral lumbar radiographs to evaluate the relationship between different GMFCS grades and lumbar spine development. RESULTS: ①Among the 125 spastic cerebral palsy children, there were 119 cases of pelvic radiographs that met the measurement standards. In the four groups with gradeⅠ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ, Ⅳ, MP was (22.72±3.88), (26.53±4.36), (33.84±4.99), and (49.54±7.87)%, CE was(30.10±6.99) °, ( 22.92±4.19) °, ( 17.91±5.50) °, and (-0.70±17.33)°, AI was (16.41±2.77) °, (20.46±4.63) °, (23.76±5.10) °, and ( 29.15±7.35)°, respectively, there were significant differences between the two comparisons (P<0.05). And the higher GMFCS grade, the greater MP and AI, and the smaller CE.The NSA was(142.74±10.03) °, (148.66±9.09) °, (151.66±10.52) °, and (153.70±8.05)° in four groups with gradeⅠ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ, Ⅳ, respectively. The differences between the two comparisons of the GMFCS gradeⅠgroup and the other three groups were statistically significant (P<0.05). NSA of GMFCSⅠgroup was significantly lower than that of the others, there was no significant difference among other groups(P>0.05). ② Among the 125 spastic cerebral palsy children, there were 88 cases of lumbar spine radiographs that met the measurement standards. ③The lumbar sagittal Cobb angle was(32.62±11.10) °, (29.86±9.90) °, (31.70±11.84) °, and (39.69±6.80)° in the four groups with gradeⅠ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ, Ⅳ, respectively;GMFSS of grade Ⅳ group was significantly higher than that of other three groups, there was significant difference between the two comparisons (P<0.05);there were no significant differences between other groups (P>0.05). In the four groups with gradeⅠ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ, Ⅳ, the lumbosacral angle was (31.02±9.91) °, ( 26.57±9.41) °, (28.08±8.56) °, and ( 27.31±11.50)°, the lumbar lordosis index was (4.14±12.89), (8.83±13.53), (13.00±11.78), and (10.76±9.97) mm, the arch apex distance was (9.50±6.80), (6.68±3.20), (7.16±4.94), and (6.62±4.13) mm, respectively, there were no significant differences between the two comparisons(P>0.05). CONCLUSION ①In children with GMFCS gradeⅠ-Ⅳ, the higher the GMFCS grade, the worse the hip develops. ② Children with GMFCS grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ may be at greater risk for lumbar kyphosis.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Lordosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Cerebral Palsy ; Hip Dislocation ; Lumbar Vertebrae/diagnostic imaging* ; Muscle Spasticity