Latest ArticlesBased on the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) pathogenesis of “Qi-deficiency and blood-stasis” in diabetic foot ulcer (DFU), this study elucidates the microscopic mechanism underlying DFU from the perspective of dysregulated coordination between mitochondrial biogenesis and mitophagy. We propose that qi-deficiency corresponds to insufficient functional mitochondria caused by impaired biogenesis, resulting in compromised oxidative phosphorylation and reduced ATP production, thereby generating a “low-renewal” wound milieu. Blood-stasis is defined as the failure to eliminate damaged mitochondria and toxic metabolites such as mtROS due to defective mitophagy, establishing a “high-stasis” chronic inflammatory microenvironment. These two processes mutually reinforce each other, forming a vicious cycle that impedes wound healing. Tonifying Qi enhances mitochondrial biogenesis, whereas activating blood resolves stasis by restoring mitophagy; their synergism disrupts the cycle of mitochondrial quality-control imbalance. This mechanism provides a scientific rationale for the TCM strategy of “tonifying qi and activating blood” in re-establishing mitochondrial homeostasis and promoting DFU repair, offering a novel theoretical basis for integrated Chinese-Western management of DFU.
The clinical manifestations of cardiac diseases are complex and varied, often combined with a variety of co-morbidities, which significantly increases the difficulty of diagnosis and treatment of the disease and clinical risk. The “syndrome-based approach” is to take the syndromes as the core and integrate different diseases into a unified framework to grasp the whole. This model emphasizes the simplification of complex clinical problems by comprehensively analyzing the underlying syndromes, grasping the core disease mechanism, and combining it with the dynamic evolution of the disease. Although the evolution of the disease follows a certain pattern, it is by no means a mechanical application, but needs to be organically integrated with the “evidence” and flexibly utilized. Cardiac qi deficiency is a common pathogenetic mechanism throughout the development of cardiac diseases. Based on the evidence of heart qi deficiency, this paper systematically proposes three major laws for the evolution of cardiac diseases: the theory of four levels of heart qi deficiency (to quantify the severity of symptoms), the theory of three levels of accumulation of internal organs (to explain the pathway of disease transmission), and the pathological transformation of “water-dampness-phlegm-blood stasis” (to reveal the evolution of pathological products). The management model of cardiac diseases was constructed with this framework, and the heterogeneous characteristics of the five aspects of disease location, disease condition, degree, concurrent symptoms and concurrent diseases were summarized while taking into account the commonality of the same evidence. The aim of this paper is to provide diagnostic and therapeutic ideas with Chinese medicine characteristics for the clinical management of cardiac diseases, and to improve clinical efficacy by optimizing evidence-based thinking.
To investigate the protective effects and underlying mechanisms of Anmeidan (AMD) against oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R)-induced injury in astrocytes and neurons by regulating the EphA4/ephrinA3 signaling pathway.
An invitro OGD/R model was established using mouse astrocytes (C8-D1A) and hippocampal neurons (HT22 cells). Control serum and AMD-containing serum were prepared. Cells were divided into control, OGD/R, OGD/R+AMD, and OGD/R+melatonin groups. Cell proliferation and viability were assessed via CCK-8 assay to determine the optimal AMD serum concentration. Apoptosis rates were measured by flow cytometry. Immunofluorescence staining was performed to evaluate fluorescence intensity of neuronal marker NeuN, astrocytic marker GFAP, and neurogenesis marker BrdU. Protein expression of ephrinA3, EphA4, EAAT1, EAAT2, and SYN was analyzed by Western blot. Cellular ultrastructure was observed via transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
Compared with the control group, the OGD/R group showed reduced fluorescence intensity of NeuN and GFAP (P<0.01), abnormal neuronal morphology, upregulated EphA4/ephrinA3 protein expression (P<0.01), and decreased EAAT1/EAAT2 levels (P<0.05, P<0.01). AMD treatment significantly enhanced GFAP and NeuN fluorescence intensity, improved neuronal morphology, downregulated EphA4/ephrinA3 expression (P<0.01), upregulated EAAT1, EAAT2, SYN (P<0.05), and reduced apoptosis rates (P<0.01).
Anmeidan alleviates OGD/R-induced astrocyte and neuronal injury by downregulating the EphA4/ephrinA3 signaling pathway and modulating glutamate transport, which may underlie its therapeutic potential in sleep deprivation-related neural damage.
To evaluate the anti-inflammatory mechanism of Dendrobium officinale polysaccharides (DOP) as well as their acute and long-term toxicity, thereby providing a scientific basis for clinical application within a safe dosage range.
The anti-inflammatory mechanism of DOP was comprehensively investigated through in vitro cell experiments and in vivo animal studies. In the cell experiment, a mouse macrophage RAW264.7 inflammation model was established using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. Different concentrations of DOP (50, 100, 200 μg/mL) were added, and the expression levels of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β) were measured. In the animal experiment, a xylene-induced ear edema model was used to observe the anti-inflammatory effect of DOP, and serum inflammatory cytokine levels were detected by ELISA. Additionally, acute toxicity tests and long-term toxicity tests were conducted to monitor mouse survival rate, body weight changes, biochemical indicators (ALT, AST, BUN, Cr), and to assess the risk of immune-allergic reactions.
Cell experiment results showed that DOP significantly downregulated the expression levels of the inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05). In animal experiments, DOP significantly reduced xylene-induced ear thickness and serum inflammatory cytokine levels in mice, demonstrating significant anti-inflammatory activity. In toxicity experiments, a high dose of DOP (5 000 mg/kg) reduced mouse survival rate to 40% and significantly inhibited body weight gain (P<0.05), while low to medium doses (50, 100, 200 mg/kg) showed no obvious acute toxicity. Long-term toxicity tests indicated that a high dose of DOP (200 mg/kg) significantly elevated liver and kidney function indicators ALT, AST, BUN, and Cr (P<0.05), suggesting that high doses may induce liver and kidney injury.
DOP exhibits significant anti-inflammatory effects with low toxicity within low to medium dosage ranges. However, potential acute toxicity and risk of liver and kidney injury exist at high doses. while also suggesting that long-term use requires caution and close monitoring of toxic reactions.
To compare the superior processing synergistic efficacy of Thirteen-processed Cyperi Rhizoma with Xiushan characteristic processing technology, and to provide a research basis for the modern industrial improvement of regional characteristic processed TCM products.
On the basis of inheriting the unique Xiushan processing technology for Thirteen-processed Cyperi Rhizoma, multiple rat models of traditional Chinese medicine syndromes were established, including primary dysmenorrhea, threatened abortion with uterine hemorrhage, and liver depression, qi stagnation and blood stasis. The therapeutic advantages of this regional characteristic processed product were comprehensively compared with those of clinically commonly-used processed products in modern practice and representative processed varieties recorded in successive dynasties.
Thirteen-processed Cyperi Rhizoma significantly reduced the writhing times (P<0.05, P<0.01), decreased the uterine organ coefficient (P<0.05, P<0.01), and lowered serum levels of PGF2α, GnRH and LH (P<0.05) in mice with primary dysmenorrhea. It also remarkably relieved vaginal bleeding volume and reduced FSH and LH levels (P<0.05) in the rat model of threatened abortion with uterine hemorrhage. In addition, it significantly decreased whole blood high-, medium-and low-shear viscosity, plasma viscosity, as well as serum ALT and AST levels (P<0.05) in rats with liver depression, qi stagnation and blood stasis.
As an inheritance of local characteristic processing technology, Thirteen-processed Cyperi Rhizoma is insufficient in repairing substantial organic lesions. However, it presents prominent processing potentiating effects in the intervention and treatment of primary dysmenorrhea, threatened abortion with uterine hemorrhage, and liver depression, qi stagnation and blood stasis. It can be regarded as a distinctive processed medicinal material for further in-depth research and modern industrial transformation and optimization.
In view of the current situation of vague TCM syndrome classification standards for endometriosis (EMS) and the lack of data-driven research, this study aims to reveal the distribution pattern of TCM syndromes in EMS through multi-center large sample data, combined with cluster analysis and expert consensus as well as TCM theory, and to construct a dynamic syndrome classification model. Furthermore, it aims to provide evidence-based support for precise TCM diagnosis and treatment by integrating the new pathogenesis theory of “disorder of Chong meridian-blood stasis and vessel obstruction”.
A cross-sectional study design was adopted, and 714 EMS patients from 7 tertiary hospitals across the country were included. A 69-item syndrome questionnaire was optimized through the Delphi method. based on frequency analysis (frequency≥15%), 62 core symptoms were selected. K-means clustering algorithm (K=5 determined by the elbow method) was used for syndrome classification. Model stability was verified through Bootstrap resampling (1 000 times), and syndrome names and theoretical explanations were completed through expert consensus (consistency rate≥80%).
High-frequency symptoms included fatigue (56.16%), lumbar and knee weakness (51.40%), dysmenorrhea (50.00%), and cold pain in the lower abdomen (46.50%). Cluster analysis revealed five syndrome types: Cold aggregation and blood stasis syndrome (36.41%), qi Stagnation and blood stasis syndrome (22.69%), kidney deficiency and blood stasis syndrome (16.53%), qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome (14.29%), and damp-heat and blood stasis syndrome (10.08%).
This study constructed a dynamic TCM syndrome classification model for EMS, with five representative syndromes including cold aggregation and blood stasis syndrome. Combined with the new pathogenesis theory of “disorder of Chong meridian-blood stasis and vessel obstruction”, it provides theoretical support for the standardized TCM diagnosis and accurate treatment of EMS.
Patients with premature ovarian insufficiency face numerous challenges in terms of endometrial receptivity in clinical practice. The progression of their condition is often insidious and complex. Western medical treatment mainly focuses on the single regulation of ovarian function, which is difficult to comprehensively improve the complex problem of reduced endometrial receptivity. This article introduces Professor Wu Quansheng's unique theoretical system of collaterals, providing a new perspective for treating the reduction of endometrial receptivity in patients with premature ovarian insufficiency. Based on this theory, it emphasizes “insufficiency of the uterine collateral, lack of nourishment”, “stagnant blood not removed, uterine collateral not unobstructed”, and “deficiency of the body and retention of pathogenic factors, toxins remaining in the body”. In terms of treatment strategies, it focuses on the core of “tonifying the kidney and strengthening the spleen, promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis”, aiming to nourish the uterine collateral and eliminate blood stasis to restore its normal function, provide a reference for the treatment of premature ovarian insufficiency with traditional Chinese medicine and the improvement of endometrial receptivity based on the theory of collaterals.
“Self-stabilization Function of Rehabilitation Mechanism” is the body's compliance with the operating law of biochemistry and restraint, as well as the dynamic adjustment process of balance-imbalance-rebalance and stabilizing mechanism, which can guide the reversal of hyperactivity and the prevention of disease. Psychosomatic problems and visceral hypersensitivity play an important role in refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease (rGERD) and are regulated by a key mechanism of Glu/GABAergic neuronal imbalance. Physiologically, Glu and GABAergic neurons are opposite and interact with each other, and when the birth-control and regulatory mechanisms between the two are malfunctioning, “Loss of Self-stabilization Function of Rehabilitation Mechanism” occurs, leading to neuronal micro-environmental disorders and promoting visceral hypersensitivity and the development of the disease. Based on this theory, this paper discusses the intrinsic connection between the imbalance of Glu/GABAergic neurons and the core mechanism of rGERD, which is “disorder of the pivot, dysregulation of qi, and stagnation and deficiency against the gastroesophageal”, and proposes that the essence of treating rGERD is to harmonize the balance relationship of pivot, with emphasis on regulating the pivot and qi. The treatment principle of “regulating the pivot and treating the epigastric region” is to adjust the pivot of the liver and stomach in order to lower the turbidity and rebelliousness, adjust the pivot of mind in order to resolve the depression, and benefit the yang and nourish the yin in order to help the smoothing and moisturizing as the treatment method, so as to make the body return to the state of “Self-stabilization”. We also summarize the relevant studies of TCM intervening in the imbalance of Glu/GABAergic neurons and restoring the E/I balance, which will provide new ideas for the clinical research and mechanism exploration of the combination of TCM and Western medicine in the prevention and treatment of rGERD.
To observe the effect of acupuncture of Jinjin, Yuye and posterior pharyngeal wall in the treatment of swallowing dysfunction in the acute phase of cerebral infarction.
The study started and ended from March 2024 to March 2025, 88 patients with swallowing dysfunction in the acute phase of cerebral infarction admitted to Beijing Gulou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine were included and randomly divided into two groups, 44 cases in each group: acupuncture group (conventional treatment+acupuncture) and conventional treatment group (conventional treatment). The swallowing function, quality of life, nutritional indicators, and nerve injury marker levels of the acupuncture group and the conventional treatment group were evaluated/measured and compared, and the efficacy was evaluated, and the occurrence of complications related to swallowing dysfunction was recorded.
After treatment, the Standardized Swallowing Assessment (SSA) and Water Swallow Test (WST) scores of the acupuncture group were lower than those of the conventional treatment group, and the Swallowing Quality of Life Scale (SWAL-QOL) score was higher than that of the conventional treatment group (P<0.01). After treatment, the serum albumin (ALB) and prealbumin (PAB) levels of the acupuncture group were higher than those of the conventional treatment group (P<0.01). After treatment, the serum soluble protein-100β (S100β) and neuron specific enolase (NSE) levels of the acupuncture group were lower than those of the conventional treatment group (P<0.01). The total effective rate of the acupuncture group was higher than that of the conventional treatment group (P<0.05). The total incidence of complications such as aspiration pneumonia and suffocation in the acupuncture group was lower than that in the conventional treatment group (P<0.05).
Acupuncture of Jinjin, Yuye and the posterior pharyngeal wall to treat swallowing dysfunction in the acute phase of cerebral infarction can promote the recovery of patients' swallowing function, reduce their neurological damage, improve their nutritional indicators and quality of life, and reduce complications.
To study the efficacy and immune mechanism of pivot acupuncture combined with estazolam in the treatment of insomnia.
80 patients diagnosed with insomnia after examination in the Department of Moxibustion of Shenzhen Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine were selected, and the enrollment time was within the range from August 2023 to January 2025. According to the random number table method, they were divided into the conventional group (40 cases, estazolam) and the treatment group (40 cases, pivot acupuncture+estazolam). The clinical efficacy was compared, and the changes in sleep structure (total sleep time, sleep efficiency, the percentages of non-rapid eye movement stage 1, 2, and 3 and rapid eye movement stage time in total sleep time), serum neurotransmitter levels (serum γ-aminobutyric acid, glutamic acid), and immune function of the body (serum interleukin-6, interleukin-1 β, tumor necrosis factor α) before and after treatment were also compared.
The treatment group had higher effective rates (90.00% vs. 65.00%) (P<0.01). After treatment in both groups, the total sleep time, sleep efficiency, the percentage of non-rapid eye movement stage 3 and rapid eye movement stage time to the total sleep time, the contents of serum γ-aminobutyric acid and glutamic acid showed higher values than those before treatment, while scores of TCM syndromes, the levels of non-rapid eye movement stage 1 and 2, serum interleukin-6, interleukin-1 β and tumor necrosis factor α showed lower values (P<0.05). After treatment, the treatment group showed higher total sleep time, sleep efficiency, non-rapid eye movement stage 3, the percentage of rapid eye movement stage time to total sleep time, and the contents of serum gamma-aminobutyric acid and glutamic acid, while lower scores of TCM syndromes levels of non-rapid eye movement stage 1 and 2, serum interleukin-6, interleukin-1 β, and tumor necrosis factor α (P<0.05).
The therapeutic effect of pivot acupuncture combined with estazolam in the treatment of insomnia is obvious. It is speculated that it may be related to its mechanisms such as improving the sleep structure of patients, regulating the levels of serum neurotransmitters, and enhancing the immune function of the body.
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