Qi-invigorating herbs (QIHs) are a group of herbs that invigorate Qi, the most vital force for maintaining the physiological functions of the human body in traditional medicine. However, the mechanism underlying the Qi-invigorating effects remains unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the unique mechanisms of QIHs based on unique compounds, using a network pharmacology approach. QIHs and their compounds were identified using existing literature and the TCMSP database, respectively. Subsequently, a method was proposed to screen for unique compounds that are common in QIHs but rare in other traditional herbs. Unique compounds’ targets were predicted using the TCMSP, BATMAN-TCM, and SwissTargetPrediction databases. Finally, enriched GO and KEGG pathways were obtained using DAVID to uncover the biomolecular functions and mechanisms. Thirteen unique compounds, mainly including amino acids and vitamins that participate in energy metabolism and improve Qi deficiency syndrome, were identified among the eight QIHs. GO and KEGG pathway analyses revealed that these compounds commonly participate in neuroactive ligand–receptor interaction and the metabolism of amino acids, and are related to the components of mitochondria and neuronal cells. Our results appropriately reflect the characteristics of traditional Qi-invigorating effects; therefore, this study facilitates the scientific interpretation of Qi functions and provides evidence regarding the treatment effectiveness of QIHs.

Sarcopenia, defined as a decline of muscle mass and function with aging, poses significant health challenges. This decline is driven by multiple factors including cellular dysfunction, mitochondrial impairments, oxidative stress, and chronic inflammation, all of which collectively disrupt muscle homeostasis and regeneration. Despite the lack of approved treatments for sarcopenia, the search for effective therapies continues as various pharmacological interventions are currently in the early stage of development. Recent advances in transcriptomics have enhanced our understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying skeletal muscle aging. In particular, spatial transcriptomics (ST) has revolutionized the field of sarcopenia research by capturing the spatial context of gene expression to uncover site-specific regulation and cellular interactions within tissues. In this review, we explore the current knowledge of sarcopenia, the mechanisms underlying muscle aging, and recent developments in therapeutic strategies. Furthermore, we examine recent studies employing ST that have provided critical insights into the spatial heterogeneity of muscle aging and atrophy, revealing novel cellular and molecular targets for intervention. By connecting muscle pathophysiology with spatial information, ST holds promise for guiding the development of novel sarcopenia therapies, ultimately improving outcomes for aging populations worldwide.

The Molecular Mechanisms of Panax ginseng in Treating Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Network Pharmacology Analysis and Molecular Docking Validation: Background. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder with a high global incidence. Panax ginseng has been used to treat T2DM in traditional medicine, with previous in vitro, in vivo, and clinical trial studies demonstrating its efficacy. This study aimed to determine the mechanism of P. ginseng in treating T2DM by network pharmacology. Methods. The bioactive compounds of P. ginseng and corresponding targets of P. ginseng-T2DM were retrieved across multiple databases. The protein-protein interaction network was established using the STRING database and topological analysis helped identify the core target. Using the DAVID tool, we performed Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis. Finally, we checked the binding of core targets and bioactive compounds using molecular docking. Results. The P. ginseng-T2DM networks mainly contained 22 bioactive compounds and 314 overlapping targets. The five most significant core targets were SRC, STAT3, MAPK1, AKT1, and PIK3R1. There were 244 GO terms and 95 KEGG pathways (adjusted ) that were strongly correlated with diabetes-related signaling pathways, such as insulin resistance, the HIF-1 signaling pathway, the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, the prolactin signaling pathway, the Rap1 signaling pathway, the Ras signaling pathway, the calcium signaling pathway, and the FoxO signaling pathway. Molecular docking results revealed that the top five core targets had a high binding affinity with the bioactive compounds of P. ginseng. Conclusion. The bioactive compounds and targets in P. ginseng ameliorate T2DM by regulating insulin resistance and multiple signaling pathways.

In traditional medicine (TM), blood stasis syndrome (BSS) is characterized by insufficient blood flow, resulting in a group of symptoms such as fixed pain, a dark complexion, bleeding, and an astringent pulse. While BSS pathology has been previously explored, its molecular mechanisms remain elusive owing to challenges in linking TM symptoms to genes. Our study aimed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying BSS using a phenotype–genotype association approach. We extracted BSS symptoms from various studies, linked them to medical terms using a Unified Medical Language System, and connected these terms to genes in the DisGeNET database. The molecular network patterns of BSS symptoms were revealed through analyzing protein–protein interactions and symptom–gene associations. Our findings revealed 1325 associations between 16 BSS symptoms comprising 32 concept-unified identifier terms and 937 genes. Network analysis highlighted the centrality of JAK2, ITGB3, and F2, associated with multiple BSS symptoms (≥5 concept-unified identifier terms) and numerous protein interactions (≥20 interactions). Enrichment analysis indicated the involvement of BSS genes in the immune system (P-value = 4.49e‐14) and hemostasis (P-value = 1.28e‐07) pathways. BSS symptoms were linked to genes regulating blood coagulation, immune responses, blood flow, and inflammatory reactions. This approach may be extended to establish genotype networks for understanding TM pattern identifications, which are composed of diverse groups of symptoms, for personalized diagnosis and treatment.

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental disorder that develops in people who have experienced or witnessed a serious traumatic event, such as natural catastrophes, sexual assaults, war… Some studies showed that acupuncture was effective for PTSD. However, there is no published research on the treatment of PTSD using acupuncture and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in Vietnam. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of treating PTSD using acupuncture combined with CBT in Thua Thien Hue province. Method and subject: This study was an interventional study conducted in two districts of Thua Thien Hue province. Thirty patients were diagnosed with PTSD using Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5). Participants were assessed on PTSD symptoms using PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL–5); depression, anxiety and stress status using DASS-21; and other health states before and after treatment. Result: The effectiveness rate of treatment was 83.3% by PCL–5 and 86.7% by DASS-21. The improvement of symptoms after 5 weeks of treatment was statistically significant (p