The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is an organ actively involved in mechanical processes, where it detects forces via a mechanosensation mechanism. Mechanosensation relies on specialized cells termed mechanoreceptors, which convert mechanical forces into electrochemical signals via mechanosensors. The mechanosensitive Piezo1 and Piezo2 are widely expressed in various mechanosensitive cells that respond to GI mechanical forces by altering transmembrane ionic currents, such as epithelial cells, enterochromaffin cells, and intrinsic and extrinsic enteric neurons. This review highlights recent research advances on mechanosensitive Piezo channels in GI physiology and pathology. Specifically, the latest insights on the role of Piezo channels in the intestinal barrier, GI motility, and intestinal mechanosensation are summarized. Additionally, an overview of Piezo channels in the pathogenesis of GI disorders, including irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, and GI cancers, is provided. Overall, the presence of mechanosensitive Piezo channels offers a promising new perspective for the treatment of various GI disorders.

Ezrin is an actin binding protein connecting the cell membrane and the cytoskeleton, which is crucial to maintaining cell morphology, intercellular adhesion, and cytoskeleton remodeling. Asthma involves dysfunction of inflammatory cells, cytokines, and airway structural cells. Recent studies have shown that ezrin, whose function is affected by extensive phosphorylation and protein interactions, is closely associated with asthma, may be a therapeutic target for asthma treatment. In this review, we summarize studies on ezrin and discuss its role in asthma-related airway inflammation and remodeling.

Astragalus membranaceus (A. membranaceus), a traditional Chinese medicine, has gained increasing recognition for its potential in treating central nervous system (CNS) disorders. This review aims to systematically integrate the mechanisms of action of A. membranaceus and its bioactive compounds on CNS diseases, with a focus on exploring its therapeutic potential and introducing related health food products. We conducted a comprehensive literature search in PubMed and Web of Science from January 2015 through July 2025. Our analysis reveals that A. membranaceus and its bioactive compounds, particularly A. membranaceus IV (AS-IV) and A. membranaceus polysaccharides (APS), exert multifaceted neuroprotective effects. These effects encompass the mitigation of neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and ferroptosis, as well as the regulation of autophagy and protection of the blood–brain barrier. The therapeutic potential of A. membranaceus is linked to the modulation of key signaling pathways, such as NF-κB, Nrf2, and PI3K/Akt. Furthermore, based on the concept of “homology of medicine and food,” A. membranaceus is being developed into various health food formulations, offering a promising strategy for the adjuvant treatment and preventive care of CNS diseases. In conclusion, A. membranaceus represents a promising, multi-target pharmacological agent for CNS disorders, yet further high-quality clinical studies are warranted to validate its efficacy and safety in humans.

Aim of the work: This review aims to systematically integrate the mechanism of action of Astragalus membranaceus and its active components on central nervous system(CNS) diseases, with a focus on exploring its therapeutic potential, and introducing related health food products that use it as an adjunct treatment for CNS diseases.Materials and methods: Searches were conducted through the PubMed and Web of Science databases using the keywords "Astragalus membranaceus", "Astragali Radix", "Astragaloside IV (AS-IV)", "Astragalus membranaceus polysaccharides (APS)" and "CNS diseases". Reports on the effects of Astragalus membranaceus and its components on CNS diseases were identified and reviewed.Results: This review provides a comprehensive summary of the latest research advancements concerning Astragalus membranaceus across several pivotal domains, including its extensive historical usage, active constituents, pharmacological properties, potential therapeutic applications for CNS disorders, safety profile, contemporary formulations, and significant findings in the realm of health food applications. The medicinal history of Astragalus membranaceus membranaceus is both long-standing and profound, with usage spanning over 2,000 years. Its active components, such as AS-IV and APS, have demonstrated considerable therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of CNS diseases. The pharmacological effects of Astragalus membranaceus membranaceus are diverse, encompassing anti-neuroinflammatory, anti-oxidative stress, anti-apoptotic activities, modulation of autophagy, anti-ferroptotic effects, and protection of the blood-brain barrier. Furthermore, the practical applications of Astragalus membranaceus extend beyond the medical field, encompassing modern pharmaceutical preparations and health food products, among other areas. Despite the promising potential of Astragalus membranaceus in the treatment of CNS diseases, numerous challenges persist in the comprehensive investigation of its pharmacological mechanisms and the standardization of its quality. Nonetheless, Astragalus membranaceus occupies an essential and significant role in the management of CNS disorders and is anticipated to have an increasingly prominent impact in related fields in the future.Conclusion: Astragalus membranaceus has emerged as a promising pharmacological agent in the global health sector, attributed to its notable efficacy in addressing CNS disorders. Combining traditional knowledge with innovative research and based on the concept of "homology of medicine and food", the application of Astragalus membranaceus as an auxiliary therapy in the field of health food fully leverages its neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties, which is an important direction for future research.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by persistent synovial inflammation, fibroblast-like synoviocyte hyperplasia, and progressive cartilage and bone destruction. Moxibustion is widely used as a non-pharmacological adjunctive intervention for RA; however, its specific therapeutic effects and its associations with autophagy and ferroptosis remain insufficiently characterized. This protocol describes a randomized, controlled, assessor-blinded preclinical study designed to evaluate moxibustion in a disease-syndrome combination rat model of RA. Eligible rats will undergo exposure to a controlled wind-, cold-, and dampness-related environment followed by Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA) injection. After successful model induction has been confirmed using prespecified criteria, animals will be randomly allocated to a normal control group, an untreated model group, a heat-matched sham-moxibustion group, a Zusanli (ST36) moxibustion group, and a methotrexate active-comparator group. All animals will undergo standardized handling and restraint procedures. Moxibustion will be administered for 20 min once daily for 15 consecutive days, whereas methotrexate will be administered at the prespecified dose and frequency. The primary outcome will be the histopathological synovitis score. Secondary outcomes will include paw volume, arthritis index, joint structural damage, serum and synovial inflammatory mediators, and functional assessments. Autophagy will be evaluated using LC3-II/LC3-I, SQSTM1/p62, Beclin-1, and complementary assessments of autophagic flux. Ferroptosis-related outcomes will include GPX4, SLC7A11, ACSL4, lipid peroxidation, glutathione, reactive oxygen species, and tissue iron levels. Outcome assessment and statistical analysis will be performed by investigators blinded to group allocation. This study is expected to provide a reproducible framework for distinguishing the specific effects of moxibustion from non-specific heat, restraint, and handling effects, and to generate mechanistic evidence supporting subsequent translational and clinical investigations.