The effects of combining virtual reality training with aromatherapy on Alzheimer′s disease patients in a nursing home / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

Objective:To explore any effects of combining virtual reality training with aromatherapy in caring for Alzheimer′s disease patients in a nursing home.Methods:Fifty nursing home residents with Alzheimer′s were divided at random into an observation group and a control group, each of 25. Both groups received routine rehabilitation, while the observation group was additionally given 45 minutes of virtual reality training combined with aromatherapy, 3 times a week for 6 months. Both groups′ cognition was then evaluated using the MMSE and an Alzheimer′s cognition assessment scale (ADAS-cog). Psycho-behavioral symptoms were quantified using the Alzheimer′s disease pathological behavior scale (BEHAVE-AD). Motor functioning was quantified using the timed up and go test (TUGT), the 30-second sit-to-stand test (30sCST), the 30-second arm curl test (30sACT) and the sit-and-reach test (CSRT). Ability in the activities of daily living (ADL) and life quality were quantified using the activity of daily living scale and of the quality of life scale for Alzheimer′s disease (QOL-AD) before and after the intervention.Results:After the intervention the average MMSE, ADAS-cog, BEHAVE-AD and ADL scores of both groups had improved significantly, with the average improvement in the observation group significantly greater than that in the control group. The TUGT, 30sCST, 30sACT and CSRT results of both groups were also significantly better, with those of the observation group again significantly superior, on average, to the control group′s results. The average QOL-AD score in the observation was significantly improved after the intervention, and was then significantly better than the control group′s average.Conclusions:Virtual reality training combined with aromatherapy can significantly improve the cognition, psycho-behavioral symptoms, activity in daily living, motor functioning and life quality of Alzheimer′s patients in a nursing home. It is worthy of promotion and application in nursing homes.

Qianjin Weijingtang in Treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease （COPD） is a chronic heterogeneous airway disease characterized by persistent and progressive airflow restriction， which can be divided into stable COPD and acute exacerbations of COPD （AECOPD）. Its morbidity and mortality remain high， posing a serious threat to human health. Traditional Chinese Medicine （TCM） believes that COPD belongs to the categories of "cough"， "dyspnea syndrome"， "lung distension"， etc. And its basic pathogenesis is intermingled phlegm and stasis with deficiency in origin and excess in superficiality. Qianjin Weijingtang， derived from the Records of Proved Prescriptions， Ancient and Modern （古今录验方）， consists of Phragmitis Caulis， Persicae Semen， Coicis Semen， and Benincasae Semen， with remarkable functions in clearing the lung， resolving phlegm and eliminating blood stasis， and has definite clinical efficacy in treating COPD and its syndromes. At present， in clinical studies， Qianjin Weijingtang has been used to treat COPD with modifications. It can be used alone or in combination with other prescriptions/western medicines to treat stable COPD， AECOPD， COPD complications， and other TCM syndromes of COPD such as phlegm-heat-stagnation obstructing the lung syndrome. It can significantly improve clinical symptoms， lung function， and blood gas indexes， and inhibit inflammatory response. Animal experiments mainly explored the mechanism of COPD from the level of pathological changes. Specifically， the underlying mechanism may be related to regulating T helper 17 （Th17）/regulatory T cells （Treg） balance， up-regulating single immunoglobulin IL-1-related receptor （SIGIRR） for resisting inflammation， up-regulating hyperplasia suppressor gene （HSG） and inhibiting Wnt signaling pathway activation to inhibit airway remodeling. It was found that there were many problems， such as low quality of clinical research， failure in sharing research standards， and the lack of mechanism research. This article systematically reviewed clinical studies of Qianjin Weijingtang in the treatment of COPD and its mechanism based on animal experiments in recent years， and put forward thoughts and suggestions according to the existing problems to provide references for the clinical application and further research on Qianjin Weijingtang.

Initial analysis of the environmental factors on the prognosis of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease / 公共卫生与预防医学

Objective To analyze the effect of different environments risks on the prognosis of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods A total of 231 patients diagnosed with COPD who visited Mianyang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from April 2018 to January 2021 were selected as the study subjects and divided into two groups according to whether the residence was changed after discharge, that is, Mianyang Environmental Living Suzhou Environmental Living Group. The follow-up time was 2019 December to September 2021. The contents include relative humidity, temperature, PM2.5, PM10, air quality index, exposure to household smoking environment, and open windows for ventilation. The regional environment was mainly measured three times, namely October to February (expressed as cold period), June to August (expressed as warm period), March to May and September to October (expressed as suitable period). The family environment was followed up every 2 months by means of questionnaires and interviews, and detailed records were recorded. After the follow-up, the COPD Assessment Test (CAT) and Modified Dyspnea Rating Score (mMRC) were analyzed. Concentration-response curves were used to analyze the influence of living environment exposure on the prognosis of COPD patients. The generalized additive model with semi-Poisson distribution as the connection function was used to study the influence of univariate and multifactor environmental factors on COPD. Results The air quality index of Mianyang was higher than that of Suzhou during the cold period, while that of Mianyang was lower than that of Suzhou during the suitable period. Meanwhile, the average relative humidity of Suzhou was higher than that of Mianyang during the warm period. The comparison of CAT and mMRC scores of COPD patients in the two regions in different quarters showed that the CAT and mMRC scores of COPD patients in Mianyang City were lower than those in Suzhou City during the cold period, and the difference between groups was statistically significant (P2.5 (warm period), PM10 (warm period) and NO2 (suitable period) increased by 10μg/m3, 8μg/m3, 12μg/m3 and CO (suitable period) increased by 0.3mg/m3 respectively caused COPD function The scores of indicators CAT and mMRC increased. After adjusting for other pollutants, PM2.5, CO were still related to the prognosis of COPD. Concentration-response curve results showed that the risk of increasing CAT score decreased with increasing daily windowing time; conversely, the risk of increasing CAT score was increasing with increasing environmental exposure to smoking. Conclusion Pollutant exposure and living environment factors have a significant impact on the prognosis of COPD, and improving the environment is of great significance for the recovery of COPD pulmonary function.

Herbal-moxa plaster for diarrhea type irritable bowel syndrome of spleen and kidney yang deficiency: a randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the clinical efficacy between herbal-moxa plaster and moxa-box moxibustion for diarrhea type irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) of spleen and kidney yang deficiency.@*METHODS@#Eighty patients with IBS-D of spleen and kidney yang deficiency were randomly divided into a herbal-moxa plaster group and a moxa-box moxibustion group, 40 cases in each group. The patients in the two groups were treated with conventional acupuncture at Baihui (GV 20), Yintang (GV 24+), Zhongwan (CV 12) and bilateral Tianshu (ST 25), Yinlingquan (SP 9), and Taixi (KI 3), etc. In addition, the patients in the herbal-moxa plaster group were treated with herbal-moxa plaster (Wenyang Fuzheng ointment, composed of prepared monkshood, prepared evodia rutaecarpa, dried ginger, cinnamon, etc.) at Shenque (CV 8), Guanyuan (CV 4), Zhongwan (CV 12) and bilateral Tianshu (ST 25), Shenshu (BL 23) and Shangjuxu (ST 37); the patients in the moxa-box moxibustion group were treated with moxa-box moxibustion at the same acupoints as the herbal-moxa plaster group. The acupuncture-moxibustion treatment was provided once every other day for 4 weeks (14 treatments). Before and after treatment, the scores of clinical symptom of TCM, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptom severity scale (IBS-SSS) and IBS quality of life scale (IBS-QOL) were compared between the two groups, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated.@*RESULTS@#Compared with those before treatment, each item scores and total scores of clinical symptom of TCM, and IBS-SSS scores in the two groups were reduced after treatment (P<0.05). The abdominal bloating score, stool frequency score and total score of clinical symptom of TCM as well as IBS-SSS score in the herbal-moxa plaster group were lower than those in the moxa-box moxibustion group (P<0.05). Compared with those before treatment, the IBS-QOL scores in the two groups were increased after treatment (P<0.05), and the IBS-QOL score in the herbal-moxa plaster group was higher than that in the moxa-box moxibustion group (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 92.5% (37/40) in the herbal-moxa plaster group, which was higher than 85.0% (34/40) in the moxa-box moxibustion group (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#On the basis of conventional acupuncture treatment, herbal-moxa plaster could effectively improve the clinical symptoms and quality of life in IBS-D patients of spleen and kidney yang deficiency, and its efficacy is superior to that of moxa-box moxibustion.

Mechanism of heat-clearing prescriptions in alleviating type 2 diabetes mellitus:a review / 中国中药杂志

Type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM), a common chronic metabolic disease, is often accompanied by internal heat syndrome. Heat-clearing prescriptions are widely used to treat different heat syndromes of T2DM from the aspects of clearing stagnant heat, excess heat, damp heat, phlegm heat, and heat toxin, demonstrating remarkable effects. The mechanism of blood sugar-lowering agents has always been a hotspot of research. Recently, the basic studies of heat-clearing prescriptions from different perspectives have been increasing year by year. To clarify the mechanisms of heat-clearing prescriptions and find specific mechanisms, we systematically reviewed the basic studies of heat-clearing prescriptions commonly used for the treatment of T2DM in the past decade, intending to provide a reference for related research.

State-regulating medicine: an integration of traditional Chinese medicine and biomedicine / 中国中药杂志

Currently available drugs for complex diseases have such limitations as unsatisfactory efficacy, drug resistance, and toxic side effects. Complexity of biological systems is a determinant of drug efficacy. It is not an effective approach to find disturbance strategies for the complicated biological network for complex diseases based on the static topological structures, as biological systems undergo dynamic changes all the time. Supported by profound theoretical basis and rich clinical experience, traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) emphasizes systematic and dynamic treatment depending on changes. Guided by TCM theory in practical treatment, Chinese medicine dynamically and comprehensively regulates the overall state. Therefore, if the dynamic factors are taken into consideration in design, the resultant drugs will be more effective. This study proposes state-regulating(SR) medicine from the perspective of system dynamics, elaborating the concept in terms of the connotations and principle and verifying the feasibility of SR medicine design with the attractor method. Thus, SR medicine is a new concept for drug discovery and design from the aspect of system dynamics, which integrates the TCM focusing on holistic dynamic regulation with biomedicine that features local microscopic research such as molecular mechanisms. The attractor method is a feasible techinical way for SR medicine design.

Tojapride Reverses Esophageal Epithelial Inflammatory Responses on Reflux Esophagitis Model Rats / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the mechanism of Tojapride, a Chinese herbal formula extract, on strengthening the barrier function of esophageal epithelium in rats with reflux esophagitis (RE).@*METHODS@#Ten out of 85 SD rats were randomly selected as the sham group (n10), and 75 rats were developed a reflux esophagitis model (RE) by the esophageal and duodenal side-to-side anastomosis. Fifty successful modeling rats were divided into different medicated groups through a random number table including the model, low-, medium-, and high-dose of Tojapride as well as omeprazole groups (n10). Three doses of Tojapride [5.73, 11.46, 22.92 g/(kg•d)] and omeprazole [4.17 mg/(kg•d)] were administrated intragastrically twice daily for 3 weeks. And the rats in the sham and model groups were administered 10 mL/kg distilled water. Gastric fluid was collected and the supernatant was kept to measure for volume, pH value and acidity. Esophageal tissues were isolated to monitor the morphological changes through hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, and esophageal epithelial ultrastructure was observed by transmission electron microscopy. The expressions of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells p65 (NF-KBp65), κB kinase beta (IKKß), occludin, and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) in the esophageal tissues were measured by immunohistochemistry and Western blot, respectively.@*RESULTS@#The gastric pH value in the model group was significantly lower than the sham group (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, gastric pH value in the omeprazole and medium-dose of Tojapride groups were significantly higher (P<0.05). A large area of ulceration was found on the esophageal mucosa from the model rats, while varying degrees of congestion and partially visible erosion was observed in the remaining groups. Remarkable increase in cell gap width and decrease in desmosome count was seen in RE rats and the effect was reversed by Tojapride treatment. Compared with the sham group, the IKKß levels were significantly higher in the model group (P<0.05). However, the IKKß levels were down-regulated after treatment by all doses of Tojapride (P<0.01 or P<0.05). The occluding and ZO-1 levels decreased in the model group compared with the sham group (Ps0.01 or Ps0.05), while both indices were significantly up-regulated in the Tojapride-treated groups (P<0.01 or P<0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Tojapride could improve the pathological conditions of esophageal epithelium in RE rats. The underlying mechanisms may involve in down-regulating the IKKß expression and elevating ZO-1 and occludin expression, thereby alleviating the inflammation of the esophagus and strengthening the barrier function of the esophageal epithelium.

Quality changes of Gardeniae Fructus Praeparatus processed by different frying methods: a color-component correlation analysis / 中国中药杂志

The chromatic values of the broken-fried and single-fried Gardeniae Fructus Praeparatus(GFP) were measured by the color analyzer to analyze the color variation rule, and the contents of 10 main components were determined by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography(UPLC). The multivariate statistical analysis, Pearson correlation analysis, and discriminant analysis were conducted to investigate the color and components of GFP samples. The experimental results revealed that L~*, a~*, b~*, and E~*ab decreased continuously during processing, and the color of samples gradually deepened. The trend and range of chromatic values during broken-frying and single-frying processes were basically identical. Gardenoside, crocin-Ⅰ(C-Ⅰ), and crocin-Ⅱ(C-Ⅱ) showed an obviously downward trend, while the contents of geniposidic acid and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural(5-HMF) increased significantly. Shanzhiside, deacetyl-asperulosidic acid methyl ester, and geniposide(G2) showed a downward trend. Scandoside methyl ester rose first and fell later. Genipin-1-O-gentiobioside(G1) went through a decrease-increase-decrease trend. The change trends of component contents during broken-frying and single-frying processes were generally consistent, but the change range was different. Among all the components, scandoside methyl ester and G1 showed obvious change. Because of different stir-frying time, the change rate of each component content in the process of broken-frying was higher than that in single-frying process. Additionally, geniposidic acid, gardenoside, scandoside methyl ester, C-Ⅰ, C-Ⅱ, and 5-HMF exhibited a higher correlation with apparent color. On the basis of above findings, the discriminant function of two frying processes was established, which could be applied to the discrimination of broken-fried and single-fried samples. This study analyzed the dynamic quality change rule of GFP during broken-frying and single-frying processes based on color-component correlation analysis, and found the two methods showed consistent change trend, yet with slight difference in the quality of samples. This study can provide data support for the processing of GFP.

Novel technologies and models for studying pharmacological activities of traditional Chinese medicine for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis / 中国药理学与毒理学杂志

OBJECTIVE Our previous studies demonstrated that various ingredients from the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, as exemplified by cryptotanshinone and salvi?anolic acid B, exerted striking effects on modulating angiogenesis and vascular permeability, which suggests that they may be effective in treating vascular leak-driven diseases (e.g. tumor, cerebral cavernous malformation and diabetic reti?nopathy). However, the lack of reliable and advanced technologies and models sets up difficult hurdles for better under?standing the role of TCM for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis. To this end, this study is to outline numerous cutting-edge platforms that can be utilized for exploring the function of TCM for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis in vascular leak-driven diseases. METHODS Two-photon laser scanning fluorescence micros?copy was used to observe the interactions between neutrophils and blood vessels in a real-time manner. Dynamic flow system was employed to mimic the in vivo behaviors of neutrophils. RIP1-Tag5 spontaneous pancreatic cancer model was used to study the function of tumor blood vessels. CCM2ECKO (deletion of CCM2 in endothelial cells) mice were employed to establish the cerebral cavernous malformation (CCM) animal model. Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) was utilized to assess the CCM lesion. Müller cell-knockout mouse model was used to study the progression of dia?betic retinopathy. Vascular permeability in this model was assessed by fluorescein angiography. RESULTS The interac?tions between neutrophils and endothelial cells involve a series of complicated processes, including rolling, adhesion, intraluminal crawling and transmigration, which were all monitored in vivo by two-photon laser scanning fluorescence microscopy in a real-time manner. Dynamic flow system was capable of recapitulating the biological behaviors of neutro?phils in vitro. Tumor vascular function in particular vascular perfusion could be assessed in the RIP1-Tag5 spontaneous pancreatic cancer model. In terms of CCM studies, specific deletion of CCM2 in endothelial cells resulted in the initiation of CCM lesion. The size and number of CCM lesions could be visualized and quantified by micro-CT. Furthermore, the Müller cell-knockout mouse model was able to precisely reflect the clinical symptoms of diabetic retinopathy. Vascular leak could be monitored at different time points using fluorescein angiography. CONCLUSION An array of high technol?ogies and animal models can be used in investigating the occurrence and progression of multiple vascular leak-driven diseases. The pre-clinical and clinical studies of TCM for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis provide fundamental support for the application of the above-mentioned platforms, with the purpose of uncovering the scientific basis of TCM for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis.

Study of hot spring bathing and chronic disease prevalence among residents between 30 and 65 in typical hot spring areas of Guizhou Province / 上海预防医学

Objective To investigate hot spring bathing behavior and chronic disease prevalence of residents aged 30 to 65 in typical hot spring areas of Guizhou Province. Methods Totally 3 708 individuals between 30 and 65 in five typical hot spring areas of Guizhou Province were included in this study. Their hot spring bathing behavior and chronic disease prevalence were recorded. Unconditional logistic regression was used to analyze the association between hot spring bathing and the incidence of chronic diseases. Results 71.3% of the residents in the hot spring areas had bathed in hot springs, with the proportion higher in males than females(χ2=92.856, P < 0.001). 76.3% of people took hot spring baths fewer than or equal to 6 times per year, 30.8% of residents often chose to take hot spring baths in the evening, and 37.6% of the residents took hot spring baths for 21-40 minutes. Bathing was more common in winter. 11.5% and 17.9% of the residents added other substances and used hot spring facilities, and most of them added traditional Chinese medicine and used the sauna. 46.6% and 41.6 % of the residents took hot spring baths to relax and relieve fatigue. The self-reported prevalence rate of chronic diseases was 522.1‰, and the top five single diseases were lumbar intervertebral disc disease(119.7‰), hypertension(118.1‰), urinary calculus(77.7‰), cervical intervertebral disc disease(53.7‰)and osteogenesis(44.5‰). Compared with those who never bathed in hot springs, taking hot spring baths 7-11 times a year was negatively correlated with chronic diseases.(OR=0.551, 95%CI: 0.345-0.879). Conclusion Hot spring bathing is popular in typical hot spring areas of Guizhou Province, but its frequency is not high. The overall prevalence of chronic diseases is relatively high, and the order of most prevalent chronic diseases is different from that in other areas. Proper hot spring bathing is negatively correlated with chronic diseases.

Current status and influencing factors of osteoporosis risk among residents in typical hot spring areas in Guizhou Province / 上海预防医学

Objective To understand the current status of osteoporosis risk and influencing factors for residents from 30 to 65 years old in typical hot spring areas in Guizhou province, and to provide a theoretical basis for reducing the risk of osteoporosis and the prevention of osteoporosis in the population. Methods A health questionnaire for residents in typical hot spring areas in Guizhou, osteoporosis risk test questions, Pittsburgh sleep quality index(PSQI), etc were used. A face-to-face survey of 3 708 residents was conducted, and logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of osteoporosis risk in hot spring areas. Results 2 403(64.81%)residents of 3 708 people surveyed were at risk of osteoporosis, of whom 1 434(87.4%)males and 969 females(47.1%)had a higher risk of osteoporosis (χ2=652.4, P < 0.001). As age increased, more residents were at risk of osteoporosis(χ2=273.4, P < 0.001), and numbers of residents of 30-39 years old, 40-59 years old, and above 60 years of age at risk of osteoporosis were 319(49.2%), 1 572(62.9%), and 512(93.6%). Male osteoporosis risk was negatively correlated with an education level of undergraduate and above(OR=0.37, 95%CI: 0.19-0.73). Age 40-59(OR=1.54, 95%CI: 1.07-2.22), 60 and above(OR=6.39, 95%CI: 2.76-14.79), and sleep disorders(OR=1.59, 95%CI: 1.08-2.35)may increase the risk of osteoporosis in male residents in hot spring areas. Less oil in daily diet may increase the risk of osteoporosis in women(OR=1.70, 95%CI: 1.23-2.36). Age 40-59(OR=1.54, 95%CI: 1.17-2.03), over 60 and above(OR=16.24, 95%CI: 10.10-26.12), and sleep disorders(OR=1.84, 95%CI: 1.48-2.28)were positively correlated with risk of osteoporosis in women. Women with junior high school degree(OR=0.61, 95%CI: 0.47-0.80), high school degree(OR=0.57, 95%CI: 0.37-0.89)and undergraduate degree and above(OR=0.59, 95%CI: 0.39-0.98)had a lower risk of osteoporosis than women who were illiterate or semi-illiterate. The osteoporosis risk test questions showed that smoking, heavy drinking, and erectile dysfunction and reduced sexual desire were the main sources of osteoporosis risk in men. Menopause before the age of 60, ≤45 years old, no milk and no calcium supplements, parents with osteoporosis or bone fractures were the major risk sources of osteoporosis in women. Conclusion The risk of osteoporosis among male residents from 30 to 65 years old in typical hot spring areas in Guizhou province is higher than that among women. Education of osteoporosis prevention should be strengthened among local residents to promote healthy behaviors and lifestyles.

Gegen Qinliantang Alleviates Ulcerative Colitis via Cell Signaling Pathways： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Gegen Qinliantang， a classic traditional Chinese medicine（TCM） compound， has been verified in modern research to possess various pharmacological effects such as anti-inflammation，anti-oxidative stress，protecting intestinal mucosal barrier， and regulating intestinal flora and immune response. Ulcerative colitis （UC） is a chronic idiopathic inflammatory disease involving the colorectal mucosa， which mainly results from genetic susceptibility， intestinal mucosal barrier damage， abnormal immune response， intestinal flora disturbance， and bile acid metabolism disorders. By reviewing the literature published in recent years， this paper sorted out the relevant pathways and mechanisms involved in the treatment of UC by Gegen Qinliantang to provide ideas for further clinical and basic research. This literature review uncovered that Gegen Qinliantang exerted the therapeutic effects against UC mainly via interleukin-6（IL-6）/Janus tyrosine kinase 2（JAK2）/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3（STAT3） signaling pathway， Toll like receptor 4（TLR4）/nuclear transcription factor-κB（NF-κB） signaling pathway，Notch signaling pathway， and matrix metalloproteinase-9（MMP-9）/p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase（p38 MAPK） signaling pathway. Gegen Qinliantang regulates the intercellular molecular transmission in multiple pathways to protect the intestinal mucosal barrier， adjust the immune response and anti-oxidative stress， and relieve UC， demonstrating the multi-target， multi-mechanism， and multi-pathway advantages of TCM compounds.

Mechanism of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Prevention and Treatment of Precancerous Lesions of Gastric Cancer： An Exploration Based on Gastric Microenvironment / 中国实验方剂学杂志

At present， the incidence and mortality of gastric cancer in China are 10.26% and 12.45%， ranking the second and third places， respectively， in the incidence and mortality of malignant tumors in China. Cancer often goes through three stages： precancerous lesions， carcinoma in situ， and invasive carcinoma. It is of great significance to advance cancer prevention and control to the stage of precancerous lesions. The popularization of digestive endoscopy-assisted diagnosis and treatment has enabled the timely diagnosis and treatment of early gastric cancer and severe dysplasia. However， the endoscopic mucosal resection is not suitable for most precancerous lesions of gastric cancer （PLGC）， and the effective drugs are not available. The long-term clinical dynamic monitoring has imposed considerable physical and mental burdens on patients. Gastrointestinal microenvironment is a dynamic balance system composed of gastrointestinal flora， chemical barrier， mechanical barrier， immune barrier， and gastrointestinal nerves. The imbalance of gastric microenvironment has been proved to be the key mechanism of PLGC. According to traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）， PLGC is a result of long-term interaction between deficient healthy Qi and excessive pathogens. In syndrome differentiation and treatment， PLGC is often believed to be developed from chronic gastritis. Besides， the inflammation-cancer transformation model put forward by Correa and the evolution of its TCM pathogenesis are also considered. Guided by the basic treatment principle of reinforcing healthy Qi to eliminate pathogenic factors， we determined the basic therapeutic methods as follows： invigorating spleen， clearing heat， and resolving dampness. At the same time， such methods as soothing liver and regulating Qi， resolving phlegm and dissipating mass， activating blood and resolving stasis， clearing heat and removing toxin， and tonifying deficiency can be combined based on the results of syndrome differentiation. After discussing the correlation between the imbalance of gastric microenvironment and PLGC and summarizing TCM intervention methods and mechanisms against PLGC from the perspective of gastric microenvironment regulation， this paper believed that TCM improved the gastric microenvironment by regulating the disorder of gastric flora， eliminating the gastric mucosal inflammation， and relieving the abnormal immune response， thereby preventing and controlling the PLGC.

Investigation of Potential Pharmacodynamic Substances and Mechanism of Gardeniae Fructus in Treatment of Ischemic Stroke Based on HPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS and Network Pharmacology / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:Combined with high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry （HPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS） and network pharmacology， to predict the target and potential mechanism of Gardeniae Fructus in the treatment of cerebral ischemia. Method:HPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS was used to identify the chemical constituents of Gardeniae Fructus according to the retention time， relative molecular weight， secondary mass spectrometry fragmentation and other information of chromatographic peaks， and combined with literature data. The targets of main active ingredients in Gardeniae Fructus were predicted by Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform （TCMSP） and SwissTargetPrediction database. The potential targets of Gardeniae Fructus against cerebral ischemia were obtained through Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man （OMIM）， GeneCards and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes （KEGG）. Gene ontology （GO） function enrichment and KEGG pathway analysis of potential targets were analyzed with the DAVID 6.8. Cytoscape 3.6.0 software was used to construct the network of active components-targets-pathways. At last， Discovery Studio 2016 software was applied in the molecular docking verification between the key active ingredients and potential protein targets. Result:A total of 40 chemical constituents in Gardeniae Fructus were identified， including iridoids， diterpenoid pigments， organic acids， monoterpenoids and other components. According to the main active ingredients， 208 potential targets were predicted， 560 disease targets related to cerebral ischemia were retrieved， 59 key targets were selected by mapping component targets with disease targets. These targets could act on key target proteins such as tumor necrosis factor （TNF）， Caspase-3 （CASP3） and CASP8， and participate in the regulation of TNF， phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B （PI3K/Akt）， hypoxia inducible factor 1 （HIF-1） and other signal pathways. Molecular docking results showed that geniposide could interact with targets of prostaglandin G/H synthase 2 （PTGS2）， TNF<italic> </italic>and nuclear transcription factor-<italic>κ</italic>B p65 （RELA）， crocin Ⅰ could interact with interleukin-2 （IL-2）. Conclusion:Geniposide， crocin Ⅰ and other ingredients in Gardeniae Fructus can play a role of anti-inflammatory and inhibiting apoptosis to prevent or treat cerebral ischemic diseases by up-regulating protein expression level of RELA and IL-2， down-regulating protein expression level of TNF， CASP8， CASP3 and matrix metalloproteinase 2 （MMP2）， and regulating TNF， PI3K/Akt and HIF-1 signaling pathways.

Discussion of pharmacological mechanism and component compatibility of five Chinese medicines targeting ACE2 for treatment of COVID-19 using network pharmacology / 中草药

Objective: To explore the action mechanism of five Chinese medicines targeting ACE2 for the treatment of COVID-19. Methods: Chinese medicines with human angiotensin converting enzyme II (ACE2) targeting activity were screened through the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) system pharmacology database and analysis platform (TCMSP), and the TCMSP platform was further utilized to identify the active ingredients of Chinese medicines and their corresponding drug targets. Then, the protein interaction of the above protein targets was analyzed by STRING online database and the relevant data were downloaded. Next, the core sub-network modules in the PPI network system were screened through the MCODE plug-in in CytoScape 3.2.1 software. The functional enrichment analyses of gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Gene and Genome (KEGG) were carried out, using online enrichment analysis software DAVID v6.8, to predict the pharmacological mechanism of the above five Chinese medicines, and to verify and explore the feasibility of compatibility and clinical application of related herb-pair or formula under the theoretical system of TCM. Results: Five Chinese medicines with potential therapeutic effects on ACE2 were selected through the TCMSP platform, namely Bupleuri Radix, Puerariae Lobatae Radix, Puerariae Lobatae Flos, Cyathulae Radix, and Hemerocallis Radix, which contained 42 active ingredients and 240 drug targets. The results of GO biological function enrichment analysis showed that the above five Chinese medicines could affect the biological processes such as inflammatory response, cell apoptosis and proliferation and etc. The results of KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that the pharmacological mechanisms of these Chinese medicines were closely related to PI3K-Akt pathway, TNF pathway, FoxO pathway, MAPK pathway, and so on. In TCM theory, Bupleuri Radix and Puerariae Lobatae Radix is a classic herb-pair for the treatment of infectious and febrile diseases. Chaige Jieji Decoction is widely used in febrile diseases in ancient and modern clinics, and has achieved good clinical effects. The main febrile disease treated by this herb-pair is the triple-yang combination of diseases in the syndrome differentiation of the six meridians, which is in line with the syndrome differentiation of TCM in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. It can be used with Cyathulae Radix and Hemerocallis Radix in addition and subtraction. Conclusion: The identified five Chinese medicines have multi-target, multi-function and multi-pathway pharmacological effects on the treatment of COVID-19. According to the theoretical analysis of TCM and previous clinical experience, it is suggested that Chaige Jieji Decoction or Bupleuri Radix and Puerariae Lobatae Radix herb-pair can be used to treat COVID-19.

Brief study on processing characteristics of first batch of classical prescriptions and suggestions on textual research / 中国中药杂志

As an important treasure for the research and development of new Chinese medicines, the classical prescriptions have a long medical history in China and are the summary of the clinical experience of the medical experts in the past dynasties. To support the research and development of classical prescriptions,relevant encouraging policies were issued by the state and relevant administrative departments. It is one of the key problems in the development process of classical prescriptions to verify and determine the processing methods of prescription herbal drugs. At present, there is no consensus or standard on such problems of classical prescriptions. In this paper, we sorted out and analyzed the related content of the herb processing for classical prescriptions, summarized the characteristics of the processing methods in the Catalogue of classical prescriptions(First Batch) and the problems faced in the textual research, and put forward some suggestions on the processing and textual research, including four research strategies: sorting out the mainstream methods for herbs in various periods of classical prescriptions, clarifying histological changes in the processing methods, determining the processing methods based on the drug processing characteristics, determining the processing methods based on the processing functions and identifying the processing methods according to the clinical efficacy and indication, so as to provide ideas and references for the research of processing methods involved in classical prescriptions.

Research Progress on Mechanism of Tongxie Yaofang in Treating Diarrhea-Predominate Irritable Bowel Syndrome Based on Brain-gut Interaction Function / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) is one of the common functional gastrointestinal diseases in clinical practice, its pathogenesis is diverse. Because of its sudden and lingering intractable symptoms, it seriously affects patients' work and life. IBS-D patients suffer from repeated illnesses, which often affect their lives with mental symptoms such as anxiety and depression. Anxiety and depression can also affect visceral sensation, increase intestinal sensitivity, aggravated by interaction between physical symptoms and mental symptoms. The main pathogenesis of IBS-D such as visceral hypersensitivity, gastrointestinal motility disorders, intestinal infections, and psychosocial factors are all related to brain-gut interaction disorders. Patients with IBS-D are prone to brain-gut interaction disorders due to long-term chronic mental stress. Brain-gut interaction is the main mode of regulation of gastrointestinal function in the brain-gut axis. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） believes that the main syndrome type of IBS-D patients is liver stagnation and spleen deficiency, while liver stagnation will be unsatisfactory, and the secretion and content of various neurotransmitters in the brain are closely related to emotions. Tongxie Yaofang is a commonly basic prescription used for the clinical treatment of IBS-D liver stagnation and spleen deficiency syndrome. It has the functions of softening the liver and replenishing the spleen, removing dampness and stopping diarrhea, and has a significant clinical effect. At present, many animal experiments and clinical studies have explored the mechanism of Tongxie Yaofang in treating IBS-D and its effect on brain-gut interaction function and brain-gut peptide content, but the main liver drainage and brain-gut interaction have not been linked. The author took the correlation between liver liver govers regulating and brain-gut interaction as the starting point, explored the mechanism of Tongxie Yaofang in treating IBS-D based on brain-gut interaction disorder, and explained the correlation between the three. Based on the research literature of Tongxie Yaofang in the past 5 years and the interaction between Tongxie Yaofang and brain-gut interaction, the author explored the effect of Tongxie Yaofang in treating IBS-D by affecting the brain-gut axis and brain-gut peptides.

Identification of chemical constituents in Huangdi Anxiao Capsules by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS~E combined with UNIFI software / 中国中药杂志

In order to clarify the main chemical constituents of Huangdi Anxiao Capsules, an ultra-high performance liquid coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS~E) combined with Waters UNIFI software were successfully used to rapidly identify the chemical constituents in Huangdi Anxiao Capsules. The mass spectrometry data of chemical constituents from Huangdi Anxiao Capsules were collected by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS~E, and their structures were identified by the results of UNIFI software according to relative retention time of reference standards, MS feature fragments and literature data of each compound. A total of 100 compounds in Huangdi Anxiao Capsules were identified, including 25 compounds from Pueraria Lobate Radix, 22 compounds from Coptis Rhizoma, 6 compounds from Ophiopogonis Radix, 14 compounds from Eriobotryae Folium, 22 compounds from Rehmanniae Radix, and 15 compounds from Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma. Among them, 3 compounds were common components. These 100 compounds included flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins and organic acids. This study systematically analyzed the chemical composition of Huangdi Anxiao Capsules, so as to provide evidences for defining the chemical material basis of Huangdi Anxiao Capsules.

Correlation analysis of color change and Maillard reaction during processing of Gardeniae Fructus Praeparatus / 中国中药杂志

The chromaticity space parameters of the samples during the processing of Gardeniae Fructus Praeparatus(Jiaozhizi in Chinese herbal name, JZZ) were measured by the visual analyzer to analyze the color variation rule during the processing of JZZ, and the content changes of total reducing sugar, total amino acid and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural(5-HMF) related to Maillard reaction were measured. Pearson correlation analysis and linear regression analysis of the data were carried out by SPSS 24.0 software. The experimental results showed that the objective coloration of the samples in the processing of JZZ was basically consistent with the traditional subjective color judgment; the contents of total reducing sugar and total amino acids showed a decreasing trend during the processing of JZZ, and the content of 5-HMF showed an increasing trend, which was in line with Maillard reaction law. Pearson correlation analysis results showed that there was a significant correlation between the chromaticity space parameters L~*(lightness value), a~*(red green value), b~*(yellow blue value), E~*ab(total color value) and the contents of total reducing sugar, total amino acid and 5-HMF(P<0.01), among which the values of L~*, a~*, b~*, E~*ab were positively correlated with the contents of total reducing sugar and total amino acid, and negatively correlated with the contents of 5-HMF. The results of linear regression analysis also showed that these two were highly correlated. In this study, by establishing the correspondence relationship between the color change of JZZ processing and Maillard reactants, wecan not only provide a basis for the objective digital expression of subjective color of JZZ, but also provide a reference for explaining the processing mechanism of JZZ from a new perspective.

Clinical observation of interventional opportunity for acupuncture treatment of acute facial neuritis / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effect of different acupuncture intervention time on the improvement of the symptoms of acute facial neuritis and the length of recovery time, and to find the best interventional opportunity for acute facial neuritis.@*METHODS@#A total of 120 patients with acute facial neuritis (all unilateral onset) were randomly divided into 4 groups, namely group A, group B, group C and group D, 30 cases in each group. Acupuncture performed within 3 days after onset in the group A; oral mecobalamin dispersible tablets and multivitamin B tablets were received within 3 days after onset, and acupuncture was started from the 4th day in the group B; oral mecobalamin dispersible tablets and multivitamin B tablets were given within 5 days after onset, and acupuncture was administered from the 6th day in the group C; oral mecobalamin dispersible tablets and multivitamin B tablets were given within 7 days after onset, and acupuncture was applied from the 8th day in the group D. Penetration needling was the main acupuncture treatment, with infrared radiation on the cheeks, once a day, 6 days a week and 3 weeks were given. After treatment, the symptom scores (Portmann scores) of the 7th, 14th and 28th day after onset were compared. The time of improvement and the clinical effect of each group were compared.@*RESULTS@#On the 7th, 14th and 28th day after onset, the Portmann scores of the 4 groups were higher than those before treatment (all <0.05). On the 7th, 14th and 28th day after onset, the Portmann scores in the group A were higher than those in the other 3 groups (all <0.05). There was significant difference between both pairs of group B, group C and group D (all <0.05). The total effective rate in the group A was 96.7% (29/30), which was higher than 93.3% (28/30), 86.7% (26/30) and 83.3% (25/30) in the other 3 groups (all <0.05). The difference between the 4 groups in the beginning of improvement, significant improvement time and clinical recovery time was statistically significant (all <0.05), and the group A was optimal.@*CONCLUSION@#Early intervention of acupuncture with acute facial neuritis can appropriately slow the progression of facial nerve injury, improve the therapeutic effect, and shorten the clinical recovery time.