Targeting RhoA expression with formononetin and salvianolic acid B to mitigate pancreatic cancer-associated endothelial cells changes.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: According to the theory of Qi and blood in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the combination of Qi-reinforcing herbs and blood-activating herbs has a synergistic effect in improving blood stasis syndrome, especially in tumor treatment. The classic "Radix Astragali - Salvia miltiorrhiza" duo exemplifies this principle, renowned for invigorating Qi and activating blood flow, employed widely in tumor therapies. Our prior research underscores the potent inhibition of pancreatic tumor xenografts by the combination of Formononetin (from Radix Astragali) and Salvianolic acid B (from Salvia miltiorrhiza) in vitro. However, it remains unclear whether this combination can inhibit the abnormal vascularization of pancreatic tumors to achieve its anti-cancer effect. AIM OF THE STUDY: Abnormal vasculature, known to facilitate tumor growth and metastasis. Strategies to normalize tumor-associated blood vessels provide a promising avenue for anti-tumor therapy. This study aimed to unravel the therapeutic potential of Formononetin combined with Salvianolic acid B (FcS) in modulating pancreatic cancer's impact on endothelial cells, illuminate the underlying mechanisms that govern this therapeutic interaction, thereby advancing strategies to normalize tumor vasculature and combat cancer progression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A co-culture system involving Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVECs) and PANC-1 cells was established to investigate the potential of targeting abnormal vasculature as a novel anti-tumor therapeutic strategy. We systematically compared HUVEC proliferation, migration, invasion, and lumenogenesis in both mono- and co-culture conditions with PANC-1 (H-P). Subsequently, FcS treatment of the H-P system was evaluated for its anti-angiogenic properties. Molecular docking was utilized to predict the interactions between Formononetin and Salvianolic acid B with RhoA, and the post-treatment expression of RhoA in HUVECs was assessed. Furthermore, we utilized shRhoA lentivirus to elucidate the role of RhoA in FcS-mediated effects on HUVECs. In vivo, a zebrafish xenograft tumor model was employed to assess FcS's anti-tumor potential, focusing on cancer cell proliferation, migration, apoptosis, and vascular development. RESULTS: FcS treatment demonstrated a significant, dose-dependent inhibition of PANC-1-induced alterations in HUVECs, including proliferation, migration, invasion, and tube formation capabilities. Molecular docking analyses indicated potential interactions between FcS and RhoA. Further, FcS treatment was found to downregulate RhoA expression and modulated the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in PANC-1-induced HUVECs. Notably, the phenotypic inhibitory effects of FcS on HUVECs were attenuated by RhoA knockdown. In vivo zebrafish studies validated FcS's anti-tumor activity, inhibiting cancer cell proliferation, metastasis, and vascular sprouting, while promoting tumor cell apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: This study underscores the promising potential of FcS in countering pancreatic cancer-induced endothelial alterations. FcS exhibits pronounced anti-abnormal vasculature effects, potentially achieved through downregulation of RhoA and inhibition of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, thereby presenting a novel therapeutic avenue for pancreatic cancer management.

Navigating the Landscape of Coronary Microvascular Research: Trends, Triumphs, and Challenges Ahead.

Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) refers to structural and functional abnormalities of the microcirculation that impair myocardial perfusion. CMD plays a pivotal role in numerous cardiovascular diseases, including myocardial ischemia with non-obstructive coronary arteries, heart failure, and acute coronary syndromes. This review summarizes recent advances in CMD pathophysiology, assessment, and treatment strategies, as well as ongoing challenges and future research directions. Signaling pathways implicated in CMD pathogenesis include adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase/Krüppel-like factor 2/endothelial nitric oxide synthase (AMPK/KLF2/eNOS), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2/antioxidant response element (Nrf2/ARE), Angiotensin II (Ang II), endothelin-1 (ET-1), RhoA/Rho kinase, and insulin signaling. Dysregulation of these pathways leads to endothelial dysfunction, the hallmark of CMD. Treatment strategies aim to reduce myocardial oxygen demand, improve microcirculatory function, and restore endothelial homeostasis through mechanisms including vasodilation, anti-inflammation, and antioxidant effects. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) compounds exhibit therapeutic potential through multi-targeted actions. Small molecules and regenerative approaches offer precision therapies. However, challenges remain in translating findings to clinical practice and developing effective pharmacotherapies. Integration of engineering with medicine through microfabrication, tissue engineering and AI presents opportunities to advance the diagnosis, prediction, and treatment of CMD.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Monomers Are Potential Candidate Drugs for Cancer-Induced Cardiac Cachexia.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases are now the second leading cause of death among cancer patients. Heart injury in patients with terminal cancer can lead to significant deterioration of left ventricular morphology and function. This specific heart condition is known as cancer-induced cardiac cachexia (CICC) and is characterized by cardiac dysfunction and wasting. However, an effective pharmacological treatment for CICC remains elusive. SUMMARY: The development and progression of CICC are closely related to pathophysiological processes, such as protein degradation, oxidative responses, and inflammation. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) monomers offer unique advantages in reversing heart injury, which is the end-stage manifestation of CICC except the regular treatment. This review outlines significant findings related to the impact of eleven TCM monomers, namely Astragaloside IV, Ginsenosides Rb1, Notoginsenoside R1, Salidroside, Tanshinone II A, Astragalus polysaccharides, Salvianolate, Salvianolic acids A and B, and Ginkgolide A and B, on improving heart injury. These TCM monomers are potential therapeutic agents for CICC, each with specific mechanisms that could potentially reverse the pathological processes associated with CICC. Advanced drug delivery strategies, such as nano-delivery systems and exosome-delivery systems, are discussed as targeted administration options for the therapy of CICC. KEY MESSAGE: This review summarizes the pathological mechanisms of CICC and explores the pharmacological treatment of TCM monomers that promote anti-inflammation, antioxidation, and pro-survival. It also considers pharmaceutical strategies for administering TCM monomers, highlighting their potential as therapies for CICC.

Harnessing traditional Chinese medicine polysaccharides for combatting COVID-19.

With the global spread of COVID-19 posing ongoing challenges to public health systems, there is an ever-increasing demand for effective therapeutics that can mitigate both viral transmission and disease severity. This review surveys the landscape of polysaccharides derived from traditional Chinese medicine, acclaimed for their medicinal properties and potential to contribute to the COVID-19 response. We specifically focus on the capability of these polysaccharides to thwart SARS-CoV-2 entry into host cells, a pivotal step in the viral life cycle that informs transmission and pathogenicity. Moreover, we delve into the concept of trained immunity, an innate immune system feature that polysaccharides may potentiate, offering an avenue for a more moderated yet efficacious immune response against various pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2. Our comprehensive overview aims to bolster understanding of the possible integration of these substances within anti-COVID-19 measures, emphasizing the need for rigorous investigation into their potential applications and underlying mechanisms. The insights provided here strongly support ongoing investigations into the adjunctive use of polysaccharides in the management of COVID-19, with the anticipation that such findings could lead to a deeper appreciation and clearer elucidation of the antiviral potentials inherent in complex Chinese herbal remedies.

PungentDB: Bridging traditional Chinese medicine of medicine food homology and modern food flavor chemistry.

Merging traditional Chinese medicine's (TCM) principles of medicine-food homology with modern flavor chemistry, this research unveils PungentDB (http://www.pungentdb.org.cn/home), a database documenting 205 unique pungent flavor compounds from 231 TCMs. It provides detailed insights into their chemical attributes, biological targets (including IC50/EC50 values), and molecular structures (2D/3D), enriched with visualizations of target organ distribution and protein structures, exploring the pungent flavor space with the help of a feature-rich visual interface. This collection, derived from over 3249 sources and highlighting 9129 targets, delves into the compounds' unique pungent flavors-taste, aroma, and thermal sensations-and their interaction with taste and olfactory receptors. PungentDB bridges ancient wisdom and culinary innovation, offering a nuanced exploration of pungent flavors' role in enhancing food quality, safety, and sensory experiences. This initiative propels flavor chemistry forward, serving as a pivotal resource for food science advancement and the innovative application of pungent flavors.

Efficacy and safety of Tongxin formula in the treatment of coronary microvascular disease: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial study.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Tongxin Formula in the treatment of coronary microvascular disease. Methods: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study simultaneously in two hospitals, consisting of 80 participants. Using a random number table, we assigned patients to the treatment and control groups. Patients in both groups received conventional Western medicine for coronary microvascular disease. In addition, those in the treatment group received Tongxin formula granules, while those in the control group received a placebo. The treatment course for both groups was three months, and the follow-up duration was six months. The primary efficacy indicators were coronary blood flow reserve and cardiovascular adverse events; the secondary efficacy indicators were the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome score, the angina symptom score, the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) score, left ventricular function, and adverse reactions. Results: After treatment, patients in the treatment group showed significantly higher variation in the coronary flow reserve (CFR) levels (CFR >2) and improvement of diastolic function (peak filling rate, or PFR >2.5) than those in the control group (P < 0.05). After 6 months of follow-up, the incidence of cardiovascular events in the treatment group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05). After 3 months of treatment and 6 months of follow-up, the total effective rates of TCM symptoms and angina symptoms, as well as the total SAQ standard scores, in the treatment group were higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). There were no serious adverse reactions in either group before or after treatment, and there was no significant change (P > 0.05). Conclusion: We found that Tongxin Formula combined with conventional Western medicine can significantly improved the level of coronary blood flow reserve, reduced the occurrence of cardiovascular adverse events, improved the clinical symptoms of patients, and enhanced the quality of life of patients with coronary microvascular disease with favorable safety.

The therapeutic potential of traditional Chinese medicine in depression: focused on the modulation of neuroplasticity.

Depression, a mood disorder characterized by a persistent low mood and lack of enjoyment, is considered the leading cause of non-fatal health losses worldwide. Neuroplasticity refers to the brain's ability to adapt to external or internal stimuli, resulting in functional and structural changes. This process plays a crucial role in the development of depression. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) shows significant potential as a complementary and alternative therapy for neurological diseases, including depression. However, there has been no systematic summary of the role of neuroplasticity in the pathological development of depression and TCM Interventions currently. This review systematically summarized recent literature on changes in neuroplasticity in depression and analyzed the regulatory mechanisms of active metabolites in TCM and TCM formulas on neuroplasticity in antidepressant treatment. Additionally, this review discussed the limitations of current research and the application prospects of TCM in regulating neuroplasticity in antidepressant research.

A practical guide to implementing artificial intelligence in traditional East Asian medicine research.

In this paper, we present a comprehensive guide for implementing artificial intelligence (AI) techniques in traditional East Asian medicine (TEAM) research. We cover essential aspects of the AI model development pipeline, including research objective establishment, data collection and preprocessing, model selection, evaluation, and interpretation. The unique considerations in applying AI to TEAM datasets, such as data scarcity, imbalance, and model interpretability, are discussed. We provide practical tips and recommendations based on best practices and our own experience. The potential of large language models in TEAM research is also highlighted. Finally, we discuss the challenges and future directions of AI application in TEAM, emphasizing the need for standardized data collection and sharing platforms.

Effect of Shi-Style Steaming and Bathing Decoction in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: Study Protocol for a Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Purpose: To prove more accurately that Chinese herbal bath therapy may be a safe, effective, simple alternative treatment modality for knee OA, we designed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to explore the effectiveness of SSBD for the relief of pain, daily activities, and quality of life in patients with knee OA. Patients and Methods: A single-center, 52-week, randomized controlled trial of SSBD versus placebo is being performed. A total of 200 patients with symptomatic knee OA will be randomly allocated to the SSBD treatment or placebo intervention group for 4 weeks. The two groups of patients are allowed to steam and bathe their knees once every other day, using one packet of SSBD each time, for 30 minutes, 3 times a week, for a total of 4 weeks. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain subscale at 4 weeks is the primary outcome measure, and the secondary outcomes include WOMAC stiffness and function scores, the Lysholm knee scale score, quality of life, the Brief Pain Inventory score, the Patient's Global Impressions of Improvement Scale score and the Clinical Global Impressions of Severity scale score. The safety of the herbal medications will also be evaluated. Conclusion: We will discuss whether SSBD has greater advantages in terms of efficacy, safety, and patient overall perception than does placebo control in middle-aged and elderly patients with knee OA. The findings may provide new and valuable information about the efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal bath therapy in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis.

Associations of Polygenic Risk for Depression, Traditional Chinese Medicine Constitution, and Depression: A Population-Based Study in Taiwan.

To comprehensively investigate the risk factors associated with depression, traditional Chinese medicine constitution (TCMC) has been found to be related to depression. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. This study examined the association between the concept of unbalanced TCMCs and major depressive disorder (MDD), investigated the overlapping polygenic risks between unbalanced TCMC and MDD, and performed a mediation test to establish potential pathways. In total, 11,030 individuals were recruited from the Taiwan Biobank, and the polygenic risk score (PRS) for MDD for each participant was calculated using the data from the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium. Unbalanced TCMC were classified as yang-deficiency, yin-deficiency, and stasis. The MDD PRS was associated with yang-deficiency odds ratio [OR] per standard deviation increase in standardized (PRS = 1.07, p = 0.0080), yin-deficiency (OR = 1.07, p = 0.0030), and stasis constitution (OR = 1.06, p = 0.0331). Yang-deficiency (OR = 2.07, p < 0.0001) and stasis constitutions (OR = 1.65, p = 0.0015) were associated with an increased risk of MDD. A higher number of unbalanced constitutions was associated with MDD (p < 0.0001). The effect of MDD PRS on MDD was partly mediated by yang-deficiency (10.21%) and stasis (8.41%) constitutions. This study provides evidence for the shared polygenic risk mechanism underlying depression and TCMC and the potential mediating role of TCMC in the polygenic liability for MDD.

The latest research progress: Active components of Traditional Chinese medicine as promising candidates for ovarian cancer therapy.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Ovarian cancer ranks the first in the mortality of gynecological tumors. Because there are no obvious symptoms in the early stage of ovarian cancer, most patients are in the advanced stage of the disease at the time of diagnosis. The incidence of ovarian cancer is increasing year by year, and the incidence of ovarian cancer has a trend of younger age. In recent years. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a significant impact on improving the quality of life of cancer patients, reducing drug toxicity, preventing metastasis and recurrence, enhancing the efficacy of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and prolonging survival time, so patients have benefited a lot. AIM OF THE STUDY: This review summarizes the mechanisms and molecular pathways through which active ingredients of TCM act in ovarian cancer. It explores the advantages of TCM in treating ovarian cancer. This review provides theoretical support for the use of TCM in the treatment of ovarian cancer, offering new perspectives for its clinical prevention and treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This review conducted a literature search on PubMed, Web of Science, Wanfang Database, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) for relevant studies on TCM active ingredients in preventing ovarian cancer. The search terms included "ovarian cancer" combined with "Chinese herbal medicine," "Herbal medicine," "Traditional Chinese medicine," and "Active ingredients of Chinese medicine". Based on existing experimental and clinical research, the paper systematically summarized and analyzed the mechanisms of TCM in treating ovarian cancer. RESULTS: Active ingredients of TCM inhibit the occurrence and development of ovarian cancer through inducing tumor cell apoptosis, inhibiting tumor cell proliferation, suppressing tumor cell migration and invasion, inducing tumor cell autophagy, promoting epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and enhancing the efficacy of radiotherapy and chemotherapy drugs. Chinese medicine provides a comprehensive treatment option for ovarian cancer patients, synergizing with radiotherapy and chemotherapy drugs to enhance treatment effectiveness and introduce new hope and possibilities in clinical therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Active ingredients of TCM can inhibit the occurrence and development of ovarian cancer, but further clinical research is needed to support their application.

Objective Analysis of Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome Differentiation of Patients With Diabetes and Prediabetes: Protocol for a Nonrandomized, Exploratory, Observational Case-Control Study Using Digitalized Traditional Chinese Medicine Diagnostic Tools.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes and prediabetes are diagnosed differentially by Western and Chinese medicine. While Western medicine uses objective laboratory analysis of biochemical parameters to define the severity of diabetes and prediabetes, Chinese medicine uses a comprehensive approach that integrates observation, inquiry, pulse palpation, and tongue diagnosis. The medical information collected is then categorized into different syndromes. However, traditional methods of pulse and tongue diagnoses used to determine syndrome differentiation are highly subjective and skill dependent. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to identify the gap in conventional traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) diagnostic techniques for syndrome differentiation analysis using contemporary diagnostic devices. We devised a protocol for a nonrandomized, exploratory, observational case-control study with equal allocations in 5 arms to investigate the syndrome differentiation of diabetes and prediabetes. We hypothesize that the TCM syndrome differentiation of diabetes and prediabetes in the tropical climate may differ from that defined based on the Chinese demographic. We also speculate that the high-frequency spectral energy may reflect a difference in pulse wave intensity and density between the healthy and diabetes groups. METHODS: A total of 250 eligible participants will be equally assigned to 1 of 5 arms (healthy or subhealthy, prediabetes, diabetes, prediabetes with hypertension and dyslipidemia, and diabetes with hypertension and dyslipidemia). Participants aged 21-75 years, of any sex or race, and have been diagnosed with diabetes (fasting plasma glucose [FPG] of 7 mmol/L, or 2-hour plasma glucose [2hPG] of 11.1 mmol/L) or prediabetes (impaired FPG of 6.1-6.9 mmol/L, or impaired glucose tolerance with an 2hPG of 7.8-11 mmol/L) will be included. The Health Evaluation Questionnaire, Physical Activity Questionnaire, sugar intake assessment, Constitution in Chinese Medicine Questionnaire, radial pulse diagnosis, and tongue diagnosis will be performed in a single visit. ANOVA for continuous data and chi-square tests of independence will be used for categorical data assessments, with a level of P<.05 considered significant. RESULTS: The recruitment is in progress. We anticipate that the study will conclude in June 2025. As of July 15, 2024, we have enrolled 140 individuals. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to use contemporary TCM diagnostic instruments to map expert and empirical knowledge of TCM to its scientific equivalents for the purpose of evaluating the syndrome differentiation of diabetes. We designed this protocol with the exploratory goal to examine objectively the syndrome differentiation of patients with diabetes and those with prediabetes using TCM diagnostic technologies. The data collected and evaluated under standardized conditions using these contemporary diagnostic devices will exhibit a higher degree of stability, hence yielding dependable and unbiased results for syndrome differentiation. Thus, our findings may potentially increase the accuracy of identification, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diabetes and prediabetes through a system of targeted treatment. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05563090; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05563090. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/56024.

Effectiveness and safety of Arecae Semen compounds for patients with depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Arecae Semen is a traditional herbal medicine widely used in the medical service and food industry, but in recent years, the carcinogenesis of edible Arecae Semen chewing has aroused comprehensive attention, therefore it is necessary to evaluate its medicinal properties. Increasing evidence has shown that Arecae Semen Compounds (ASC) possess antidepressant ability. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of ASC in the treatment of depression. METHODS: We retrieved articles in eight databases from their inception to May 2024. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the effects of ASC alone or combined with routine treatment in patients with depression were identified. The Cochrane risk of bias (ROB) tool (ROB 2) was used for assessing the ROB in the included trials. Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) was used to assess the certainty of the evidence for the review outcomes. The outcomes included Hamilton depression rating scale (HAMD) scores, depression-related symptoms, serum dopamine levels, and adverse events. Stata 14.0 was used for data analysis calculating standardized mean difference (SMD) for continuous outcomes and relative risk (RR) for binary outcomes, both with 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: Nine RCTs involving 787 patients were included in this review. ASC lowered HAMD scores (SMD - 3.43, 95% CI - 5.24 to - 1.61; I2 = 95.2%, P < 0.001), alleviated depression-related symptoms, increased serum dopamine levels, and reduced the incidence of adverse events slightly (RR 0.18, 95% CI 0.04 to 0.77; I2 = 0, P = 0.775) compared with the control group. Publication bias might account for the asymmetrical presentation of funnel plots. Meta-regression analysis revealed that regarding HAMD scores, there was no significant relationship with duration, sample size, or treatment strategy. The evidence of the outcomes was of very low certainty. CONCLUSIONS: ASC may achieve better therapeutic effects, alleviate depression-related symptoms with a lower incidence of adverse events, and provide a potentially effective and safe complementary therapy for patients with depression. However, the evidence is very uncertain so further researches are required to validate our results and explore clinical implications of Arecae Semen in depth. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42022361150.

Analysis of Pathological Factors of Long Head of Biceps Tendinopathy Based on Network Pharmacology.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the therapeutic effect and mechanism of Danggui Buxue Tang in the treatment of biceps longus tendon lesions, and to preliminarily explore the relevant factors affecting this injury. METHODS: Using network pharmacology analysis methods, the potential mechanism of Danggui Buxue Tang in treating key lesions of the long head of the biceps brachii muscle was studied. RESULTS: Model analysis revealed 44 protein-protein interactions associated with long head binding. The distribution of 19 strongly correlated targets is Pharmaper>SEA>Stitch>Swiss. Further discovery revealed 17 immune system and inflammation related KEGG pathways with P values less than 0.01. The TNF and sphingolipid signaling pathways are associated with inflammation, while the MAPK signaling pathway is associated with immunity. Finally, it was found that the FoxO and HIF-1 signaling pathways are directly associated with long head restraint injury in the biceps brachii muscle. CONCLUSION: Danggui Buxue Tang inhibits related pathways, regulates the immune system, reduces inflammation, and alleviates disease progression. Danggui Buxue Tang can be an effective choice for treating combined lesions of the long head of the biceps brachii muscle.

Efficacy and safety of combined Chinese and western medicine in the treatment of metabolic syndrome: A network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Objectives: To comprehensively analyze the randomized controlled clinical trials of integrated traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and western medicine in the treatment of metabolic syndrome (MetS), and to explore the clinical efficacy and safety of different TCM combined with western medicine for MetS. The purpose of this study is to provide specific suggestions for clinical guidance in the treatment of MetS. Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted across several databases, including China Knowledge Network, Wanfang Data, VIP Information, China Biomedical Literature Service System, Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science, up to October 2023. The scope of this review was confined to RCTs focusing on the treatment of metabolic syndrome through an integrated approach of TCM and Western medicine. The primary efficacy endpoints analyzed were clinical efficacy, fasting blood glucose (FBG), triglyceride (TG), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Data synthesis and analysis were performed using Stata 16 and RevMan 5.4 for both traditional and network meta-analyses. Results: The findings from both traditional and network meta-analyses reveal that the combination of JiangZhiHuoXue pills (JZHX) + Conventional Western Medicine (CWM) significantly reduces FBG levels. Similarly, the AnShenNingXin capsules (ASNX) + CWM combination markedly lowers TG levels, while the FuFangQiMa capsules (FFQM) + CWM combination shows enhanced efficacy in elevating HDL levels. Notably, the combination of KangNing capsules (KNJN) + CWM demonstrates a more pronounced clinical effect compared to CWM/placebo alone. Conclusions: The study concludes that the synergistic combination of TCM and Western medicine exhibits superior therapeutic benefits in treating MetS compared to CWM/Placebo treatments alone. The combinations of JZHX, AXNX, FFQM, and KNJN with CWM emerge as potentially effective treatments.

Integrated network pharmacology and metabolomics to study the potential mechanism of Jiawei Yinchenhao decoction in chronic hepatitis B.

Chronic hepatitis B infection (CHB) is a major risk factor for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) globally and continues to pose a significant global health challenge. Jiawei Yinchenhao decoction (JWYCH) is a modified version of Yinchenhao decoction (YCHD), which is widely used to treat liver diseases including icteric hepatitis, cholelithiasis, and hepatic ascites. However, the effectiveness and underlying mechanism of JWYCH on CHB are still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the impact of JWYCH on CHB and explore the underlying mechanism via network pharmacology and metabolomics. C57BL/6 mice were administered rAAV-HBV1.3 via hydrodynamic injection (HDI) to establish the CHB model. The infected mice were orally administered JWYCH for 4 weeks. HBsAg, HBeAg, HBV DNA, the serum liver function index, and histopathology were detected. In addition, network pharmacology was used to investigate potential targets, whereas untargeted metabolomics analysis was employed to explore the hepatic metabolic changes in JWYCH in CHB mice and identify relevant biomarkers and metabolic pathways. JWYCH was able to reduce HBeAg levels and improve liver pathological changes in mice with CHB. Additionally, metabolomics analysis indicated that JWYCH can influence 105 metabolites, including pipecolic acid, alpha-terpinene, adenosine, and L-phenylalanine, among others. Bile acid metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism, and retinol metabolism are suggested to be potential targets of JWYCH in CHB. In conclusion, JWYCH demonstrated a hepatoprotective effect on a mouse model of CHB, suggesting a potential alternative therapeutic strategy for CHB. The effect of JWYCH is associated mainly with regulating the metabolism of bile acid, arachidonic acid, and retinol. These differentially abundant metabolites may serve as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for CHB.

Application of polysaccharide-based crosslinking agents based on schiff base linkages for biomedical scaffolds.

Chemical crosslinking is a method widely used to enhance the mechanical strength of biopolymer-based scaffolds. Polysaccharides are natural and biodegradable carbohydrate polymers that can act as crosslinking agents to promote the formation of scaffolds. Compared to synthetic crosslinking agents, Polysaccharide-based crosslinking agents have better biocompatibility for cell adhesion and growth. Traditional Chinese medicine has special therapeutic effects on various diseases and is rich in various bioactive ingredients. Among them, polysaccharides have immune regulatory, antioxidant, and anti-inflammation effects, which allow them to not only act as crosslinking agents but endow the scaffold with greater bioactivity. This article focuses on the latest developments of polysaccharide-based crosslinking agents for biomedical scaffolds, including hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate, dextran, alginate, cellulose, gum polysaccharides, and traditional Chinese medicine polysaccharides. Also, we provide a summary and prospects on the research of polysaccharide-based crosslinking agents.

Mechanism of YJKL Decoction in Treating of PCOS Infertility by Integrative Approach of Network Pharmacology and Experimental Verification.

Purpose: Currently, there is still no clear treatment for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). YJKL has better therapeutic effects and lower toxic side effects for PCOS type infertility. This study aims to clarify the potential mechanism of YJKL Decoction in the treatment of PCOS based on network pharmacology and experiments verification. Patients and Methods: Network pharmacology and experimental validation approach were used to investigate the bioactive ingredients, critical targets and potential mechanisms of YJKL Decoction against PCOS. Firstly, we use network pharmacology methods to collect core targets, and then validate their effects on diseases through experiments. Results: Five core targets were screened, Threonine kinase 1 (AKT1), Cellular tumor antigen p53 (TP53), Tumor necrosis factor (TNF), Albumin (ALB) and Vascular endothelial growthfactor A (VEGFA). KEGG analysis showed that YJKL treatment for PCOS mainly include AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications, TNF signaling pathway and HIF-1 signaling pathway. The molecular docking results showed that compounds have higher affinity with targets. Finally, experimental results had shown that YJKL Decoction had an better therapeutic effects in the treatment of PCOS. Conclusion: Based on a systematic network pharmacology approach and experimental verification, our results comprehensively illustrated the active ingredients, potential targets, and molecular mechanism of YJKL for application to PCOS and helps to illustrate mechanism of action on a comprehensive level.

Successful Administration of Kampo Medicine and Acupuncture Treatment to Improve Erythromelalgia: A Case Report.

Erythromelalgia is a rare disease characterized by a triad of recurrent burning pain, redness with pain, and hot flashes in the legs during attacks. We report the case of a 40-year-old woman who suffered from refractory erythromelalgia for 15 years and was successfully managed with Kampo medicine and acupuncture. Her pain was refractory to seven types of oral medications and intravenous lidocaine injections. Byakkokaninjinto was also administered for concomitant polydipsia in addition to acupuncture, unseiin, orengedokuto, and sokeikakketsuto. Because erythromelalgia has no established treatment, traditional Kampo medicine combined with acupuncture may help improve the quality of life of affected patients.

The effects of Qingchang Ligan formula on hepatic encephalopathy in mouse model: results from gut microbiome-metabolomics analysis.

Background: Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a neurological disorder resulting from advanced liver injury. HE has a high mortality rate and poor prognosis. The pathogenesis of HE is still unclear, which has led to the lack of a satisfactory specific treatment method. There is increasing evidence that the intestinal flora affects the communication between the gut and the brain in the pathogenesis of HE. Adjusting the intestinal flora has had a beneficial effect on HE in recent studies, and the Qingchang Ligan formula (QCLG) has been shown in previous studies to regulate intestinal flora and metabolites. In this study, we established a thioacetamide-induced HE mouse model to evaluate the protective effect of QCLG on HE and explore its potential mechanism, which also demonstrated that intestinal flora dysbiosis is involved in the pathogenesis of HE. Methods: Mice were intraperitoneally injected with thioacetamide (TAA, 150 mg/kg) to induce HE. Additionally, they were orally administered Qingchang Ligan Formula (QCLG) at a dose of 6.725 g/kg·d for seven days, while control mice received an equal volume of saline via gavage. Subsequently, samples were subjected to 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) gene sequencing, high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), and RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis. Result: QCLG improved weight loss, cognitive impairment, neurological function scores, blood ammonia, and brain gene expression of interleukin-6 (TNF-α), Interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) induced by HE. Moreover, QCLG increased the levels of liver function indicators, including alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and serum TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6. 16S RNA sequencing revealed increased Oscillibacter, Colidextribacter, and Helicobacter in TAA-induced mouse fecal samples. Also, the abundance of Bifidobacterium decreases TAA-induced mouse fecal samples. In contrast, QCLG treatment significantly restored the gut microbial community. Metabolomics indicated significant differences in some metabolites among the normal control, treatment, and model groups, including 5-methoxytryptophan, Daidzein, Stercobilin, and Plumieride (PLU). Conclusion: QCLG can alleviate neuroinflammation and prevent HE caused by liver injury by regulating intestinal flora in mouse models.