Evaluation of Clinical Efficacy of Modified Houpo Dahuangtang in Moderate and Severe ARDS Patients Based on Electrical Impedance Tomography / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical efficacy of modified Houpo Dahuangtang in moderate and severe acute respiratory distress syndrome （ARDS） patients with phlegm-heat accumulation，and monitor the pulmonary ventilation changes of patients before and after treatment by electrical impedance tomography（EIT）. MethodThe 62 cases of moderate and severe ARDS patients with phlegm-heat accumulation who required mechanical ventilation in the department of intensive care unit （ICU） in Chongqing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from September 2021 to June 2022 were selected，and divided into an experimental group（31 cases）and a control group（31 cases）using a random number table. On the basis of regular Western medicine treatment，the experimental group received modified Houpo Dahuangtang and the control group received warm water by a nasogastric tube for seven days. The changes in the clinical efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine（TCM），the oxygenation index［arterial oxygen partial pressure （PaO2）/fractional inspired oxygen（FiO2），P/F］，lactic acid（Lac），acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ（APACHE Ⅱ） score，compliance，plateau pressure，gas distribution parameters monitored by EIT（Z1，Z2，Z3 and Z4），inflammatory factors［interleukin-6 （IL-6），IL-10， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） and C-reactive protein （CRP）］ of both groups before and after treatment were recorded. Besides， the mechanical ventilation time， length of stay in ICU， 28-day mortality and incidence of adverse reactions（delirium，abdominal pain and diarrhea）in the two groups were also observed. ResultThere was no significant difference in the baseline indexes of patients in the two groups，and thus the two groups were comparable. After treatment for one week， the total effective rate for TCM syndromes in the experimental group was 90.30%（28/31）， higher than the 67.74%（21/31）in the control group（Z=-2.415，P<0.05）.Compared with the same group before treatment， the plateau pressure and Lac decreased （P<0.01）and the compliance and P/F increased （P<0.01） in experimental group， while the Lac decreased （P<0.05）and the P/F increased （P<0.05）， and the compliance and plateau pressure did not change significantly in the control group. After treatment，the plateau pressure and inflammatory factors in the experimental group were lower than those in the control group（P<0.05）， but the compliance and P/F in the experimental group were higher than those in the control group（P<0.05）， and the gas distribution parameters Z1，Z2，Z3，Z4，Z1+Z2，and Z3+Z4 monitored by EIT in the experimental group were all higher than those in the control group （P<0.05）. There was no significant difference in mechanical ventilation time， ICU hospitalization time， 28-day mortality， delirium， abdominal pain， diarrhea and other adverse reactions between the two groups. ConclusionModified Houpo Dahuangtang can significantly improve the P/F，pulmonary ventilation in gravity-dependent regions and pulmonary compliance，reduce the release of inflammatory factors in moderate and severe ARDS patients. Compared with conventional methods，EIT can timely monitor the pulmonary ventilation changes in ARDS patients，which suggests its clinical feasibility.

Discussion on the Scientific Connotation of Fortifying Spleen， Resolving Phlegm and Dispelling Stasis in the Treatment of Coronary Heart Disease under the Guidance of Dysfunctional High-Density Lipoprotein / 中医杂志

The key pathogenesis of coronary heart disease （CHD） is spleen deficiency and phlegm stasis， and dysfunctional high-density lipoprotein （dys-HDL） may be the biological basis for the occurrence of CHD due to spleen deficiency and phlegm stasis. Considering the biological properties and effects of high-density lipoprotein （HDL）， it is believed that the structure and components of HDL are abnormal in the state of spleen deficiency which led to dys-HDL； and dys-HDL contributes to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques through two major pathways， namely， mediating the dysfunction of endothelial cells and mediating the foaminess of macrophages and smooth muscle cells， thus triggering the development of CHD. It is also believed that dys-HDL is a microcosmic manifestation and a pathological product of spleen deficiency， and spleen deficiency makes foundation for the production of dys-HDL； dys-HDL is also an important biological basis for the phlegm-stasis interactions in CHD. The method of fortifying spleen， resolving phlegm， and dispelling stasis， is proposed as an important principle in the treatment of CHD by traditional Chinese medicine， which can achieve the therapeutic purpose by affecting the changes in the structure and components of dys-HDL， thus revealing the scientific connotation of this method， and providing ideas for the diagnosis and treatment of CHD by traditional Chinese medicine.

Cinobufagin Combined with Thalidomide/Dexamethasone Regimen in the Treatment of Patients with Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma of Phlegm and Stasis Obstruction： A Retrospective Study / 中医杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the efficacy and safety of cinobufagin tablets combined with thalidomide/dexamethasone （TD） regimen in the treatment of newly diagnosed multiple myeloma （NDMM） with phlegm and stasis obstruction. MethodsThe clinical data of 50 patients with NDMM of phlegm and stasis obstruction who were hospitalized at the Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine from June 1st， 2015 to July 31th， 2019 were retrospectively analyzed， and they were divided into a control group （bortezomib/dexamethasone-containing regimen， 27 cases） and an observation group （cinobufagin tablets combined with TD regimen， 23 cases）. The clinical efficacy and safety were compared between the two groups after two or three courses of treatment. The primary outcomes were clinical remission rate including overall response rate and deep remission rate， one-year and two-year overall survival rate， and adverse effects. The secondary outcomes were the proportion of plasma cells in bone marrow， hemoglobin， β2-microglobulin， lactate dehydrogenase， serum creatinine， blood urea nitrogen， bone pain score， and KPS functional status score （KPS score） before and after treatment. ResultsIn terms of clinical efficacy， there was no statistically significant difference （P＞0.05） in the overall response rate ［the observation group 69.57%（16/23） vs the control group 70.37% （19/27）］ and deep remission rate ［the observation group 56.52% （13/23） vs the control group 55.56% （15/27）］ between groups after the treatment. The one-year overall survival rates of the observation group and the control group were 90.9% and 92.4%， and the two-year overall survival rates were 81.8% and 80.9% respectively， with no statistically significant differences between groups （P＞0.05）. During the treatment， no renal function injury occurred in both groups. The incidence of peripheral nerve injury in the observation group was 8.70%， which was lower than 48.15% in the control group （P＜0.01）. After the treatment， the proportion of myeloma plasma cells， β2-microglobulin， serum creatinine level， and bone pain score decreased， while the hemoglobin level and KPS score increased in both groups （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Compared between groups after treatment， the bone pain score of the observation group was lower than that of the control group， while the KPS score was higher than that of the control group （P＜0.05）. ConclusionThe clinical efficacy of cinobufagin tablets combined with TD in the treatment of NDMM is equivalent to bortezomib/dexamethasone-containing regimen， but the former is more helpful in relieving the pain and improving the quality of life， and has better safety.

Analysis of the Treatment Strategy of Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction Based on ZHANG Boli's Theory of “Damp-turbidity and Phlegm-rheum Type of Diseases” / 中医杂志

Professor ZHANG Boli believed that the core pathogenesis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction （HFpEF） is weak pulse at yang and wiry pulse at yin. By referring to the theory of “damp-turbidity and phlegm-rheum type of diseases”， he proposed that yin pathogens of damp-turbidity and phlegm-rheum may damage yang qi in each stage of HFpEF， thus aggravating the trend of weak pulse at yang and wiry pulse at yin， which played an important role in the deterioration of HFpEF. Therefore， Professor ZHANG Boli advocated that importance should be attached to the elimination of yin pathogen and the protection of yang qi during the various stages of HFpEF in order to delay the aggravation of weak pulse at yang and wiry pulse at yin； he put forward the idea of staged treatment that “yin pathogen should be dispelled and yang qi should be demonstrated”； and he formulated the treatment strategy of treating the disease as early as possible， eliminating pathogens and protecting yang， interrupting the disease trend， using warm-like medicinals， and activating blood circulation， to enrich the theoretical system of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of HFpEF.

Effect of Modified Cangfu Daotantang on Glucose and Lipid Metabolism in Simple Obese Children with Phlegm Dampness and Stagnation / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo observe and compare the intervention effect of modified Cangfu Daotantang on glucose and lipid metabolism in simple obese children with phlegm dampness and stagnation. MethodA total of 60 children with simple obesity were randomly divided into two groups according to the simple randomization method of the random number table. The odd number was included in the test group， and the even number was included in the basic treatment group， with 30 cases in each group. On the basis of signing the informed consent notice， the treatment group was given modified Cangfu Daotantang combined with basic treatment， while the control group was only given basic treatment. After three months of treatment， the body mass index （BMI）， glucose and lipid metabolism level ［total cholesterol （TC）， triglyceride （TG）， low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C）， fasting plasma glucose （FPG）， fasting insulin （FINS）， and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance （HOMA-IR）］， the change in the total score of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndromes， and the effective rate of treatment were observed and compared. ResultAfter treatment， the BMI of the observation group and the control group decreased significantly （P<0.01）. Compared with the control group， the BMI level in the observation group decreased significantly （P<0.05）. After treatment， the levels of TC， TG， and LDL-C in the observation group and the control group decreased significantly （P<0.01）. Compared with the control group， the levels of TC， TG， and LDL-C in the observation group decreased significantly （P<0.05）. In addition， the level of TC in the observation group improved significantly compared with that in the control group （P<0.01）. The levels of FPG， FINS， and HOMA-IR in the observation group and the control group were significantly lower than those before treatment （P<0.05）. After treatment， compared with the control group， the levels of FPG， FINS， and HOMA-IR in the observation group were significantly reduced （P<0.05）. The level of FPG in the observation group was significantly improved compared with that in the control group （P<0.01）. After treatment， the total score of TCM syndromes in the two groups decreased significantly （P<0.01）. Compared with the control group， the total score of TCM syndromes in the observation group was lower （P<0.01）. After treatment， the total effective rate of treatment was 86.67% （26/30） in the observation group and 73.33% （22/30） in the control group. By rank sum test， the total effective rate of the observation group was better than that of the control group （Z=-2.100， P<0.05）. ConclusionModified Cangfu Daotantang combined with basic treatment can effectively reduce the BMI of obese children and improve their glucose and lipid metabolism. It has good clinical effects and high clinical application value， which is worth further in-depth research and promotion.

Pharmacological research progress of five classical prescriptions in treatment of chronic heart failure / 中国中药杂志

Chronic heart failure(CHF) is a comprehensive clinical syndrome caused by multiple factors that result in structural and/or functional abnormalities of the heart, leading to impaired ventricular contraction and/or relaxation functions. This medical condition represents the final stage of various cardiovascular diseases. In the treatment of CHF, multiple clinical studies have demonstrated the benefits of using traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) to control oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis, thereby delaying ventricular remodeling and reducing myocardial fibrosis. In this study, common TCM syndromes in the diagnosis and treatment of CHF in recent years were reviewed and summarized. Five common treatment methods including benefiting Qi and activating blood circulation, enhancing Qi and nourishing Yin, warming Yang for diuresis, eliminating phlegm and dampness, rescuing from collapse by restoring Yang, and corresponding classic prescriptions in prevention and treatment of CHF were concluded under the guidance of TCM syndrome differentiation thinking. Meanwhile, research progress on the modern pharmacological effects of these classic prescriptions was systematically discussed, so as to establish a unique treatment system for CHF by classic prescriptions under the guidance of TCM syndrome differentiation theory and provide innovative diagnosis and treatment strategies for clinical CHF.

Syndrome differentiation and treatment of coronary heart disease combined with anxiety and depression from stages of phlegm, blood stasis, and toxic pathogen based on theory of "coexistence of diseases and depression syndromes" / 中国中药杂志

Depression syndromes(anxiety and depression), as typical psychological disorders, often coexist with and mutually influence coronary heart disease(CHD). They constitute a psycho-cardiology disease involving both the blood vessels of the heart and the spirit of the heart. Based on the theory of "coexistence of diseases and depression syndromes", it was proposed that CHD and depression syndromes coexisted independently and were causally related. The factors of depression syndromes go through the entire course of CHD and have different causal relationships at different stages, leading to a pathogenic process of "depression causing disease" or "disease causing depression". In the chronic latent period, phlegm predominates, with depression leading to the production of phlegm. Phlegm accumulation and Qi stagnation initiate a mutual damage process of psycho-cardiology, marking the onset of the disease. In the pathological development period, blood stasis becomes predominant. Depression leads to blood stasis, which further obstructs Qi circulation, accelerating disease progression. In the acute attack period, toxicity becomes crucial. Depression transforms into toxicity, damaging Qi and blood, disturbing the balance of the mind, and inducing a sudden and severe exacerbation of the disease. Based on this, the approach of treating phlegm and depression together, treating blood stasis and depression together, and treating toxicity and depression together by stages was established. Research has found that this approach can simultaneously improve organic damage and emotional disorders, and also has a regulating effect on micro-level syndrome indicators, achieving harmonization of psycho-cardiology in the treatment.

Biological connotation of "phlegm-turbidity" theory in hepatocellular carcinoma microenvironment based on abnormal lipid metabolism / 临床肝胆病杂志

There is still a lack of effective strategies for the prevention and treatment of liver cancer, and a deep understanding of its pathogenesis may help to develop new treatment methods. Due to the abnormal changes of lipid metabolism in the development and progression of liver cancer, such process is closely associated with the "phlegm-turbidity" theory in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Starting from the changes of lipid metabolism in hepatocellular carcinoma microenvironment, this article discusses the association of the abnormal changes of lipid metabolism in tumor cells and immune cells with the "phlegm-turbidity" theory and the clinical efficacy of phlegm-eliminating therapies in clinical practice. Since the "phlegm-turbidity" theory in TCM plays an important role in the pathogenesis and pathological changes of liver cancer, the analysis of its theoretical connotation helps to clarify pathological mechanism, thereby providing a theoretical basis for the role of TCM in the prevention and treatment of liver cancer.

Integrated strategy for biomarkers of stable coronary heart disease with phlegm and blood stasis syndrome based on RNA-seq and network pharmacology / 中国中药杂志

This study aimed to analyze the biological foundation and biomarkers of stable coronary heart disease(CHD) with phlegm and blood stasis(PBS) syndrome based on RNA-seq and network pharmacology. Peripheral blood nucleated cells from five CHD patients with PBS syndrome, five CHD patients with non-PBS syndrome, and five healthy adults were collected for RNA-seq. The specific targets of CHD with PBS syndrome were determined by differential gene expression analysis and Venn diagram analysis. The active ingredients of Danlou Tablets were screened out from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform, and the "component-target" prediction was completed through PubChem and SwissTargetPrediction. The "drug-ingredient-target-signaling pathway" network of Danlou Tablets against CHD with PBS syndrome was optimized by Cytoscape software. After the target biomarkers were identified, 90 participants were enrolled for diagnostic tests, and 30 CHD patients with PBS syndrome were included in before-and-after experiment to determine the therapeutic effect of Danlou Tablets on those targets. As revealed by RNA-seq and Venn diagram analysis, 200 specific genes were identified for CHD with PBS syndrome. A total of 1 118 potential therapeutic targets of Danlou Tablets were predicted through network pharmacology. Through integrated analysis of the two gene sets, 13 key targets of Danlou Tablets in the treatment of CHD with PBS syndrome were screened out, including CSF1, AKR1C2, PDGFRB, ARG1, CNR2, ALOX15B, ALDH1A1, CTSL, PLA2G7, LAP3, AKR1C3, IGFBP3, and CA1. They were presumably the biomarkers of CHD with PBS syndrome. The ELISA test further showed that CSF1 was significantly up-regulated in the peripheral blood of CHD patients with PBS syndrome, and was significantly down-regulated after Danlou Tablets intervention. CSF1 may be a biomarker for CHD with PBS syndrome, and it is positively correlated with the severity of the disease. The diagnostic cut-off of CSF1 for CHD with PBS syndrome was 286 pg·mL~(-1).

Research advances in mechanism of lipid infiltration of coronary heart disease and simultaneous treatment of phlegm and blood stasis based on phlegm-blood stasis correlation theory / 中国中药杂志

Atherosclerosis(AS) is the key pathological basis of coronary heart disease(CHD), and lipid infiltration is a classical theory to explain the pathological mechanism of AS. The theory highlights that the occurrence and development of AS are closely related to abnormal lipid metabolism, with the essence of the pathological reaction caused by the invasion of lipids into arterial intima from plasma. Phlegm and blood stasis are physiologically homologous and subject to pathological co-existence. Phlegm-blood stasis correlation is the basic theory to explain the pathogenesis characteristics of CHD and has important guiding significance for revealing the mecha-nism of lipid infiltration of CHD. Phlegm is the pathological product of abnormal metabolism of Qi, blood, and body fluid, and a gene-ral summary of a series of abnormally expressed lipid substances. Among them, turbid phlegm invades the heart vessels, gradually accumulates, and condenses to achieve the qualitative change from "invisible pathogen" to "tangible pathogen", which corresponds to the mechanism of lipid migration and deposition in the intima of blood vessels, and is the starting factor of the disease. Blood stasis is the continuous development of phlegm, and it is a result of pathological states such as decreased blood fluidity, increased blood coagulation, and abnormal rheology. The fact that blood stasis caused by phlegm accords with the pathological process of "lipid abnormality-circulatory disturbance" and is the central link of the disease. Phlegm and blood stasis aggravate each other and lead to indissoluble cementation. The phlegm-blood stasis combination serves as common pathogen to trigger the disease, which is the inevitable outcome of the disease. Based on the phlegm-blood stasis correlation theory, the simultaneous treatment of phlegm and blood stasis is established. It is found that this therapy can simultaneously regulate blood lipid, reduce blood viscosity, and improve blood circulation, which can fundamentally cut off the biological material basis of the reciprocal transformation between phlegm and blood stasis, thus exerting a significant curative effect.

Role of brown adipose tissue in phlegm-dampness metabolic syndrome based on infrared thermal imaging / 中国中药杂志

This study aimed to explore the infrared manifestation and role of brown adipose tissue(BAT) in phlegm-dampness me-tabolic syndrome(MS), and to provide objective basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment of phlegm-dampness MS. Subjects were selected from the department of endocrinology and ward in the South District of Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences from August 2021 to April 2022, including 20 in healthy control group, 40 in non phlegm-dampness MS group and 40 in phlegm-dampness MS group. General information, height and weight of the subjects were collected and body mass index(BMI) was calculated. Waist circumference(WC), systolic blood pressure(SBP) and diastolic blood pressure(DBP) was measured. Triglyceride(TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C), fasting blood glucose(FBG), fasting insulin(FINS), leptin(LP), adiponectin(ADP) and fibroblast growth factor-21(FGF-21) were detected. The infrared thermal image of the supraclavicular region(SCR) of the subjects before and after cold stimulation test was collected by infrared thermal imager and the changes of infrared thermal image in the three groups were observed. In addition, the differences in the average body surface temperature of SCR among the three groups were compared, and the changes of BAT in SCR were analyzed. The results showed compared with the conditions in healthy control group, the levels of WC, SBP, DBP, TG and FPG in MS groups were increased(P<0.01), and the HDL-C level was decreased(P<0.01). Compared with non phlegm-dampness MS group, phlegm-dampness MS group had higher conversion score of phlegm dampness physique(P<0.01). According to the infrared heat map, there was no difference in the average body surface temperature of SCR among the three groups before cold stimulation. while after cold stimulation, the average body surface temperature of SCR in MS groups was lower than that in healthy control group(P<0.05). After cold stimulation, the maximum temperature of SCR and its arrival time in the three groups were as follows: healthy control group(3 min)>non phlegm-dampness MS group(4 min)>phlegm-dampness MS group(5 min). The thermal deviation of SCR was increased and the average body surface temperature of left and right sides were higher(P<0.01) in healthy control group and non phlegm-dampness MS group, while the thermal deviation of SCR did not change significantly in the phlegm-dampness MS group. Compared with that in healthy control group, the elevated temperature between left and right sides was lower(P<0.01, P<0.05), and compared with that in non phlegm-dampness MS group, the elevated temperature of left side was lower(P<0.05). The changes of the average body surface temperature of SCR in the three groups were in the order of healthy control group>non phlegm-dampness MS group>phlegm-dampness MS group. Compared with the conditions in healthy control group and non phlegm-dampness MS group, FINS, BMI and FGF-21 levels were increased(P<0.01,P<0.05), while ADP level was decreased(P<0.01, P<0.05) in phlegm-dampness MS group. Moreover, the LP level in phlegm-dampness MS group was higher than that in non phlegm-dampness MS group(P<0.01). It was observed in clinical trials that after cold stimulation, the average body surface temperature of SCR in MS patients was lower than that of the healthy people; the thermal deviation of SCR did not change significantly in the phlegm-dampness MS patients, and the difference in their elevated temperature was lower than that in the other two groups. These characteristics provided objective basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment of phlegm-dampness MS. With abnormal BAT related indicators, it was inferred that the content or activity of BAT in SCR of phlegm-dampness MS patients were reduced. There was a high correlation between BAT and phlegm-dampness MS, and thus BAT might become an important potential target for the intervention in phlegm-dampness MS.

Effect of Synergistic Treatment with Qingjin Huazhuo Formula （清金化浊方） on Thrombotic Events in Hospitalized Patients of Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with Phlegm Heat Stasis Obstructing in the Lung Syndrome： A Retrospective Cohort Study / 中医杂志

ObjectiveTo analyze the effect and possible mechanism of the synergistic treatment with Qingjin Huazhuo Formula （清金化浊方， QHF） on the occurrence of thrombotic events in hospitalized patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease （AECOPD） and phlegm heat stasis obstructing in the lung syndrome. MethodsIn a retrospective cohort study， 305 AECOPD inpatients with the syndrome of phlegm heat stasis obstructing in the lung were included. According to whether using QHF （the course of treatment ≥ 7 days）， they were divided into the exposure group （193 cases） and the non-exposure group （112 cases）. Totally， 109 pairs of cases were obtained by 1∶1 propensity score matching （PSM）. After matching， the occurrence of thrombotic events during hospitalization， the remission of main symptoms or signs （including cough， expectoration， wheezing， cyanosis） after 10 days （±3 days） of treatment， and the difference of the indicators including D-dimer， percentage of neutrophils （NEUT%）， C-reactive protein （CRP）， arterial partial pressure of oxygen （PaO2）， and arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide （PaCO2） before treatment and after 10 days （±3 days） of treatment during the first auxiliary examination. ResultsAfter matching， the incidence of thrombotic events during hospitalization in the exposure group （5 cases， 4.59%） were lower than that of the non-exposure group （15 cases， 13.76%， P＜0.05）. The exposure factor that taking QHF for 7 days or above was a protective factor for thrombotic events in AECOPD hospitalized patients with phlegm heat stasis obstructing in the lung syndrome （RR = 0.333， 95% CI 0.126 to 0.885）. The remission rates of cough （100/109， 91.74%）， expectoration （103/109， 94.50%）， wheezing （102/109， 93.58%）， and cyanosis （97/109， 88.99%） in the exposure group were significantly higher than those in the non-exposure group （90/109， 82.57%； 94/109， 86.24%； 89/109， 81.65%； 86/109， 78.90%） after treatment （P＜0.05）. After treatment， the levels of D-dimer， NEUT%， CRP and PaCO2 in both groups significantly decreased （all P＜0.05）， and the level of PaO2 significantly increased （P＜0.05）. The difference of the levels of D-dimer， NEUT% and PaO2 in the exposure group before and after treatment were larger than those in the non-exposure group （P＜0.05）， while the pre-post difference of CRP and PaCO2 were not significantly different between the two groups （P＞0.05）. ConclusionThe synergistic treatment with QHF can effectively reduce the occurrence of thrombotic events， alleviate the clinical symptoms or signs such as cough， expectoration， wheezing， and cyanosis， and can improve lung function in hospita-lized patients with AECOPD and phlegm heat stasis obstructing in the lung syndrome. Its mechanism may be related to improving blood coagulation and inflammatory status.

Analysis of the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Pulmonary Nodules based on the “Six Constraints” Theory / 中医杂志

Based on ZHU Zhenheng's “six constraints” theory， it is proposed that the formation of pulmonary nodules is closely related to the six constraints， which are constraint of qi， blood， phlegm， fire， dampness and food. All six constraints might lead to pulmonary nodules， among which qi constraint is the dominant one. When qi constraint lasts for a long time， it will turn into fire constraint， resulting in the failure of spleen to transport， which may lead to phlegm constraint， dampness constraint and food constraint； when qi fails to move blood， blood constraint is formulated. Mutual generation of six constraints lead to the disease， and the pathogenesis is interrelated， jointly promoting the occurrence and development of pulmonary nodules. The treatment is mainly to unblock qi， usually using Yueju Pills （越鞠丸）， a classic formula commonly used for six constraints， as the basic formula. And according to the six constraints partiality， it is suggested to flexibly add the medicinals of soothing the liver and rectifying qi， clearing heat and dissipating masses， dissolving phlegm and dissipating masses， fortifying spleen and dissipating dampness， promoting digestion and removing accumulation， invigorating blood and dissolving stasis.

Experience of ZHANG Boli in Staged Treating Very Early Onset Inflammatory Bowel Disease Based on the Theory of “Similar Diseases and Syndromes of Damp-Turbidity-Phlegm-Rheum” / 中医杂志

This article summarizes the experience of Professor ZHANG Boli in the staged treatment of very early onset inflammatory bowel disease （VEO-IBD）. Grounded in the theory of “similar diseases and syndromes of damp-turbidity-phlegm-rheum”， it is believed that dampness and turbidity are crucial pathogenic factors in VEO-IBD. During the acute phase， the core pathogenesis centers on the accumulation of turbid toxins in the intestines. The treatment focuses on dispelling dampness and clearing turbidity to eliminate turbid toxins， while also regulating the flow of qi and nourishing the spleen and kidney. During the remission phase， the core pathogenesis involves spleen and kidney deficiency， which is treated by invigorating the spleen and warming the kidney to strengthen the body resistance. Additionally， promoting blood circulation and eliminating stasis is integrated throughout the treatment process. Medications are chosen to be mild and gentle， emphasizing balance and harmony， and attention is given to the methods of administration and psychological well-being， ensuring comprehensive care for both body and mind.

Discussion on the Treatment Thoughts of Bronchiectasis in Traditional Chinese Medicine based on Hypothesis of “Vicious Circle” / 中医杂志

Bronchiectasis is characterized by a “vicious cycle” involving compromised host defense， mpaired clearance of airway mucus， bacterial colonization， infections， and inflammation， leading to frequent acute exacerbations and diminished quality of life. Based on the hypothesis of “vicious circle”， this paper explores the treatment of bronchiectasis by traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） from three aspects. Firstly， dissipating excessive “phlegm” secretion and enhancing airway clearance form the foundation of the treatment， aiming to improve the condition of mucus hypersecretion. Secondly， invigorating spleen for strengthening vital energy can improve the function of immune system and reduce recurrent infections and acute attacks. Lastly， clearing heat and purging the lung can alleviate infection and inflammatory damage. By employing these methods， TCM can disrupt the progression of the “vicious circle”， delaying disease advancement， minimizing acute exacerbations， and improving the quality of life for patients.

Treatment of Menopausal Syndrome Based on Phlegm，Stagnation，and Fire / 中医杂志

Menopausal syndromes are mostly based on kidney deficiency， which could be expalined that kidney governing essence storage and controlling innateness， so when the kidney water was deficient and the liver fail to nourish， then led to liver depression and transform into fire； deficiency of the kidney， loss of warmth of the spleen， and inability to transport and transform the water and dampness will easily lead to phlegm and fire； the decline of the kidney yin and loss of water and fire will easily cause the exuberance of heart fire. Therefore， clinical symptoms of hot flashes， insomnia， and palpitations are common due to phlegm， depressions， and fire. Based on this， at the beginning of the treatment， we should treat the symptoms firstly by resolving phlegm， relieving depression and clearing fire， and commonly use Huanglian Wendan Decoction （黄连温胆汤）， Yigan Powder （抑肝散）， Chaihu plus Longgu Muli Decoction （柴胡加龙骨牡蛎汤）， and Qingxin Zishen Decoction （清心滋肾饮）， etc. After improving the symptoms of hot flashes and sweating， irritability， dreaming and frightening， then we should give the prescriptions to tonify kidney yang and nourish kidney yin， in order to eliminate the pathogens and reinforce healthy qi， and to treat both the manifestations and the root cause， so that the symptoms of the patients can be better alleviated.

Effect of Gandouling Decoction Combined with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Impulse Control Disorders in Wilson's Disease with Syndrome of Combined Phlegm and Stasis / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy of Gandouling decoction combined with cognitive behavioral therapy （CBT） in the treatment of impulse control disorders in patients with Wilson's disease （WD， syndrome of combined phlegm and stasis）. MethodA prospective study was conducted on 90 WD patients with the syndrome of combined phlegm and stasis and impulse control disorders （ICD） treated in the Department of Encephalopathy of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine from August 2018 to February 2023. They were randomized into a control group， a CBT group， and a treatment group， with 30 patients in each group. The control group received routine Western medicine treatment （basic copper removal）. The CBT group received cognitive behavioral therapy in addition to the therapy in the control group， and the treatment group received Gandouling decoction in addition to the therapy in the CBT group. Each course of treatment was 8 days， and the patients were treated for 4 courses. Before and after treatment， the 24-hour urine copper （24 h U-Cu）， non-ceruloplasmin-bound copper （NCC）， traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome score， unified WD rating scale part Ⅲ （UWDRS Ⅲ） score， Barratt Impulse Scale Version 11 （BIS-11） score， Buss-Perry aggression questionnaire （BPAQ） score， modified overt aggression scale （MOAS） score， and treatment emergent symptom scale （TESS） score of three groups of patients were determined and statistically analyzed. ResultBefore treatment， there was no statistically significant difference in the level of 24 h U-Cu or NCC among the three groups. After treatment， all the three groups showed an increase in 24 h U-Cu （P<0.01） and a decrease in the NCC level （P<0.05， P<0.01）. There was no significant difference in the 24 h U-Cu level among the three groups after treatment. After treatment， the NCC level showed no significant difference between the control group and the CBT group， while the NCC level in the treatment group was lower than that in the control group and CBT group （P<0.05）. Before treatment， there was no statistically significant difference in the TCM syndrome score among the three groups. After treatment， the TCM syndrome scores of all the three groups decreased （P<0.01）. Moreover， the treatment group had lower TCM syndrome score than the control group and CBT group （P<0.05）. Before treatment， the UWDRS Ⅲ， BIS-11， BPAQ， and MOAS scores had no statistically significant differences among the three groups. After treatment， the UWDRS Ⅲ， BIS-11， BPAQ， and MOAS in all the three groups declined （P<0.05）. Moreover， the CBT group and treatment group had lower UWDRS Ⅲ， BIS-11， BPAQ， and MOAS scores than the control group （P<0.05）， and the treatment group had lower BIS-11 and BPAQ scores than the CBT group （P<0.05）. ConclusionThe combination of Gandouling decoction and CBT can ameliorate impulse control disorders in the WD patients with combined phlegm and stasis.

Effect of Modified Gualou Zhishitang Combined with Piperacillin Sodium and Tazobactam Sodium on Immune Function and Serum Levels of Inflammatory Cytokines in Patients with Stroke-associated Pneumonia with Syndrome of Phlegm-heat Accumulation in Lung / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo explore the effects of modified Gualou Zhishitang combined with piperacillin sodium and tazobactam sodium on the immune function and serum levels of inflammatory cytokines in the patients with stroke-associated pneumonia （SAP， syndrome of phlegm-heat accumulation in lung）. MethodEighty SAP patients with the syndrome of phlegm-heat accumulation in lung were randomized into a control group （40 cases） and a study group （40 cases）. The SAP patients in the control group were treated with piperacillin sodium and tazobtam sodium， while those in the study group were treated with modified Gualou Zhishitang on the basis of the treatment in the control group for 2 consecutive weeks. The clinical therapeutic effects， immune function indexes， inflammation indexes， and lung function of SAP patients in the two groups before and after treatment were determined and compared. ResultAfter treatment， the scores of lesion， pulmonary rales， cough， fever， phlegm color， and constipation in both groups decreased （P<0.05）. After treatment， the ratio of forced expiratory volume in the first second to forced expiratory volume （FEV1/FVC） and forced expiratory volume in the first second as percentage of predicted value（FEV1%） in both groups improved （P<0.05）， and the study group outperformed the control group （P<0.05）. The treatment decreased the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio （NLR） in the two groups （P<0.05）， and the study group had lower NLR than the control group after treatment （P<0.05）. The serum levels of procalcitonin （PCT） and hypersensitive C-reactive protein （hs-CRP） in both groups declined after treatment （P<0.05）， and the declines were more significant in the study group than in the control group （P<0.05）. After treatment， the study group was better than the control group （P<0.05）. The treatment in both groups elevated the levels of CD3+， CD4+， and CD4+/CD8+ in the peripheral blood and lowered the level of CD8+ （P<0.05）， and the changes were more significant in the study group than in the control group （P<0.05）. The total response rate of the study group was 95.00% （38/40）， which was higher than that （80.00%， 32/40） of the control group （χ2=4.114，P<0.05）. There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups. ConclusionModified Gualhou Zhishitang combined with piperacillin sodium and tazobactam sodium demonstrates a significant therapeutic effect on the SAP patients with the syndrome of phlegm-heat accumulation in lung. This therapy can mitigate the clinical symptoms， improve the lung function， lower the serum levels of inflammatory cytokines， and improve the immune capacity， with high safety.

Clinical study on the treatment of spleen deficiency and phlegm stasis syndrome in alcoholic cirrhosis with Qinggan Huashi Huoxue Decoction and conventional western medicine / 国际中医中药杂志

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of Qinggan Huashi Huoxue Decoction combined with conventional Western medicine in the treatment of alcoholic cirrhosis with spleen deficiency and phlegm stasis syndrome.Methods:Randomized controlled trial. A total of 110 patients from Tangshan Fengrun District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from March 2020 to March 2022 were selected as observation objects and divided into 2 groups with 55 patients in each group by computer random drawing method. The control group was treated with conventional Western medicine, while the observation group was treated with Qinggan Huashi Huoxue Decoction on the basis of the control group treatment. Both groups were treated for 3 months. The traditional Chinese medicine syndrome score was performed before and after treatment, and the levels of proline peptidase (PLD), type Ⅳ collagen (Ⅳ-C) and type Ⅰ procollagen aminopeptidase (PINP) were detected by phthalaldehyde contrast colorimetry, and the levels of pentamylin 3 (PTX3), protein kinase B (Akt) and B cell activating factor receptor (BAFF-R) were determined by ELISA. Adverse events were recorded and clinical efficacy was evaluated.Results:The total effective rate in the observation group was 92.73% (51/55), while that in the control group was 76.36% (42/55), the difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( χ2=5.64, P=0.018). After treatment, the score and total score of costal pain and fullness, swelling and firmness, anorexia, white and greasy tongue coating in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( t values were 11.02, 7.36, 7.47, 6.38, 9.37, respectively, P<0.01). After treatment, the levels of serum PLD[(143.28±16.38)U/L vs. (160.69±18.35)U/L, t=5.25], Ⅳ-C[(71.93±8.33)μg/L vs. (83.12±9.91)μg/L, t=6.41], and PINP[(32.36±5.32)ng/L vs. (39.02±5.61)ng/L, t=6.39] in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( P<0.01); The levels of PTX3[(36.82±4.96)ng/L vs. (42.14±5.83)ng/L, t=5.15], Akt[(69.22±7.94)ng/L vs. (77.24±8.63)ng/L, t=5.07], and BAFF-R[(15.29±3.64)ng/L vs. (19.92±4.15)ng/L, t=6.22] in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( P<0.01). During the treatment period, the incidence of adverse reactions was 12.73% (7/55) in the observation group and 9.09% (5/55) in the control group, with no statistically significant difference between the two groups ( χ2=0.37, P=0.541). Conclusion:Qinggan Huashi Huoxue Decoction combined with conventional Western medicine therapy can improve the Traditional Chinese Medicine syndrome and the degree of liver fibrosis damage in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis with spleen deficiency and phlegm stasis syndrome, inhibit the expression of serum inflammatory factors, and improve clinical efficacy.

Effects of Zhenfang Baiwanzi Decoction combined with alteplase injection on serum inflammatory factors and vascular endothelial active substances in the patients with acute ischemic stroke and syndrome of wind-phlegm invading collaterals / 国际中医中药杂志

Objective:To explore the effects of Zhenfang Baiwanzi Decoction combined with alteplase injection on serum inflammatory factors and vascular endothelial active substances in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS).Methods:Randomized controlled trial. A total of 87 patients with AIS admitted to Mengcheng County Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine between June 2019 and July 2022 were selected as the observation subjects by prospective cohort study, and they were divided into treatment group (44 cases) and control group (43 cases) according to the last number of medical records. The control group was given thrombolytic therapy with alteplase injection on the basis of routine therapy, and the treatment group was given Zhenfang Baiwanzi Decoction on the basis of the control group. Both groups were treated for 2 weeks. TCM symptoms were scored before and after treatment, and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) was used to evaluate the degree of neurological deficit, and Activity of Daily Living Scale (ADL) was applied to evaluate the quality of life. The levels of serum IL-6, CRP, TNF-α, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), VEGF, NOS and endothelin-1 (ET-1) were detected by ELISA. The adverse reactions were recorded and the clinical efficacy was evaluated.Results:The total effective rate was 93.18% (41/44) in treatment group and 76.74% (33/43) in control group ( χ2=4.62, P=0.032). After treatment, the scores of hemiparalysis, skin insensitivity, deviated mouth and eye, inhibited speech and headache and dizziness in treatment group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( t=3.38, 3.77, 2.69, 2.60, 2.36, P<0.01 or P<0.05). The NIHSS score was significantly lower than that of the control group ( t=7.53, P<0.01) while the ADL score was significantly higher than that of the control group ( t=2.99, P<0.01). After treatment, the levels of serum IL-6, CRP, TNF-α and MCP-1 in treatment group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( t=6.07, 5.70, 5.30, 3.36, P<0.01), and the levels of VEGF [(364.54±33.04)ng/L vs. (346.86±29.63)ng/L, t=2.63] was significantly lower than that of the control group ( P<0.05), NOS [(20.77±3.12) μmol/L vs. (29.46±5.36) μmol/L, t=9.27] and ET-1 [(85.41±7.09) ng/L vs. (94.11±9.38) ng/L, t=4.89] were significantly lower than those in the control group ( P<0.01). Conclusion:Zhenfang Baiwanzi Decoction combined with alteplase injection can improve the clinical symptoms, reduce levels of inflammatory factors, protect the vascular endothelial function, and enhance the efficacy of patients with AIS.