Publications by authors named "Zhixiu Lin"

Ginseng-containing Shentao Ruangan granules (STR) have been a well-known Chinese medicine prescription for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in China for decades. This study aimed to establish an experimental framework to decipher the underlying mechanism of STR in the treatment of HCC. Microarray analysis, network pharmacology, RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq), bioinformatics analysis, and and experiments were used as integrated approaches to uncover the effects and mechanisms of action of STR.

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Intestinal cancer (IC) poses a significant global health challenge that drives continuous efforts to explore effective treatment modalities. Conventional treatments for IC are effective, but are associated with several limitations and drawbacks. Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) plays an important role in the overall cancer prevention and therapeutic strategies.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Gemcitabine (GEM) is the main treatment for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), but resistance issues are linked to an increase in the laminin subunit γ2 (LAMC2) protein, which complicates its effectiveness.
  • - The study focuses on 20(S)-Ginsenoside Rh2 (Rh2), derived from ginseng, to see if it can counteract GEM resistance and clarify its working mechanisms.
  • - Results show that Rh2 increases the effectiveness of GEM, reduces tumor growth in mice, and lowers LAMC2 levels through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, indicating its potential in treating GEM-resistant PDAC.
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A traditional Chinese herbal medicine formula named Huang-Lian-Jie-Du Decoction (HLJDD) has been used to cure various inflammatory diseases with a long history. However, one component of HLJDD has remarkable liver and kidney toxicities. Therefore, it was altered with to form a modified HLJDD (MHLJDD).

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Article Synopsis
  • Upper limb problems significantly affect many people's quality of life due to pain and limited mobility, leading patients to seek alternatives to traditional treatments like NSAIDs and corticosteroids.
  • A double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial is set up to evaluate the effects of a soothing cream gel (SCG) compared to a placebo on improving shoulder and elbow movement and chronic pain among 70 participants over two weeks.
  • The ethical approval for the study has been secured, and results will be shared through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.
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Background: Pancreatic cancer (PanCa), ranked as the 4th leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, exhibits an dismal 5-year survival rate of less than 5 %. Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a known major risk factor for PanCa. Brusatol (BRT) possesses a wide range of biological functions, including the inhibition of PanCa proliferation.

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Background: Psoriasis is a long-term inflammatory skin disease. A novel herbal formula containing nine Chinese herbal medicines, named Inflammation Skin Disease Formula (ISDF), has been prescribed in clinics for decades.

Aims: To investigate the efficacy and action mechanisms of ISDF on psoriasis using imiquimod (IMQ) and Interleukin-23 (IL-23)-induced models in mice and reveal the pharmacokinetics profile of ISDF in rats.

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Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease. Tianma-Gouteng Pair (TGP), commonly prescribed as a pair-herbs, can be found in many Chinese medicine formulae to treat brain diseases. However, the neuroprotective effects and molecular mechanisms of TGP remained unexplored.

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The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the largest global epidemic in recent time. Chinese medicine has been recognized by the World Health Organization as an effective treatment for COVID-19, but there is still a lack of high-quality randomized, double-blind trials using placebo as the control to support its application, which may hinder its further promotion locally and internationally. This study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of Yinqiao Powder-Maxing Ganshi Decoction with variation in relieving major symptoms of mild and moderate COVID-19 by telemedicine.

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Background: Qing-Zao-Jiu-Fei Decoction (QZJFD) is a famous herbal formula commonly prescribed for the treatment of lung-related diseases in the ancient and modern times. Trichosanthis Fructus (TF) and Fritillariae Thunbergii Bulbus (FTB) are widely used for treatment of cough and pulmonary disease. In order to identify a more effective formula for treatment of pulmonary fibrosis, we intend to add TF and FTB in QZJFD to form a modified QZJFD (MQZJFD).

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Gut dysbiosis, a well-known risk factor to triggers the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD), is strongly associated with metabolic disturbance. Trimethylamine -oxide (TMAO), produced in the dietary choline metabolism, has been found to accelerate neurodegeneration in AD pathology. In this study, the cognitive function and gut microbiota of TgCRND8 (Tg) mice of different ages were evaluated by Morris water maze task (MWMT) and 16S rRNA sequencing, respectively.

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Article Synopsis
  • Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a common spinal disorder in children characterized by lateral curvature, often forming "S" or "C" shapes, and the Lin School of Lingnan Region (LSLR) has shown that their orthopaedic manipulation techniques may help treat it.
  • This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of these techniques (OMT-LSLR) in adolescents by comparing traditional physiotherapy with either OMT-LSLR or a sham treatment over 16 weeks, with follow-up evaluations after 24 weeks.
  • The study will assess various outcome measures, including quality of life scores and spinal curvature changes, through multiple evaluation methods at a clinical center in Hong Kong.
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  • Brachial plexus avulsion (BPA) in rats was induced to create a model for studying neuropathic pain, where spinal nerve roots are damaged, resulting in significant upper limb pain.
  • The treatment of quercetin (QCN) for 1 week post-surgery showed promising results, reducing mechanical pain sensitivity and boosting antioxidant enzyme levels in the spinal cord.
  • The study concluded that QCN not only alleviates pain but also mitigates neuroinflammation and oxidative stress through specific molecular pathways, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic option for pain management.
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Autophagy plays a complex impact role in tumor initiation and development. It serves as a double-edged sword by supporting cell survival in certain situations while also triggering autophagic cell death in specific cellular contexts. Understanding the intricate functions and mechanisms of autophagy in tumors is crucial for guiding clinical approaches to cancer treatment.

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Background: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a common degenerative joint condition that causes disability and pain in the elderly population. The prevalence of KOA among persons aged 63 or above is approximately 30%. Previous studies have reported the positive effects of Tui-na treatment and the Chinese herbal formula Du-Huo-Ji-Sheng Decoction (DHJSD) for KOA treatment.

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  • Nrf2 is a critical transcription factor that controls redox homeostasis and is often overly activated in various cancers, making it a significant target for cancer therapies.
  • Research has identified and explored natural compounds like apigenin and luteolin as potential Nrf2 inhibitors that could help combat tumor growth by triggering oxidative responses.
  • The article reviews the Nrf2/Keap1 system and the ongoing development of natural Nrf2 inhibitors, aiming to encourage further investigation into these compounds as promising cancer treatments.
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Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive cancer with very poor prognosis. Combination therapy has proven to be a promising strategy for enhancing TNBC treatment efficacy. Toosendanin (TSN), a plant-derived triterpenoid, has shown pleiotropic effects against a variety of tumors.

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Hepatic endothelial function is central to the development of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Curcumin (Cur) is reportedly hepatoprotective, however, it remains unknown whether Cur improves hepatic endothelial function in NASH. Additionally, the poor bioavailability of Cur renders it difficult to elucidate its hepatoprotective effect, hence, its biotransformation should be considered.

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For centuries, the search for nutritional interventions to underpin cardiovascular treatment and prevention guidelines has contributed to the rapid development of the field of dietary patterns and cardiometabolic disease (CMD). Numerous studies have demonstrated that healthy dietary patterns with emphasis on food-based recommendations are the gold standard for extending lifespan and reducing the risks of CMD and mortality. Healthy dietary patterns include various permutations of energy restriction, macronutrients, and food intake patterns such as calorie restriction, intermittent fasting, Mediterranean diet, plant-based diets, etc.

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Introduction: The emergence and persistence of symptoms after acute COVID-19 is expected to become a major burden on healthcare systems. We assessed the features of the post-COVID-19 Syndrome (Long COVID) burden in a cohort of COVID-19 patients during the fifth major wave in Hong Kong.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of 135 patients with confirmed COVID-19 from Feb to Apr 2022 who utilized traditional Chinese medicine telemedicine services was conducted.

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Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive cognitive dysfunctions and behavioral impairments. Patchouli alcohol (PA), isolated from Pogostemonis Herba, exhibits multiple pharmacological properties, including neuroprotective effects. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of PA against AD using the TgCRND8 transgenic AD mouse model, and to explore the underlying mechanisms targeting CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein β/asparagine endopeptidase (C/EBPβ/AEP) signaling pathway.

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Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the current global pandemic of which residual symptoms exhibited by post-acute, rehabilitating patients include fatigue, dyspnoea, and insomnia. Chinese medicine (CM) has been widely used in China to treat different stages of COVID-19. While there are a significant number of clinical studies suggesting its efficacy and safety in its use during acute stage, there are very few randomized controlled trials focusing on the rehabilitation stage.

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Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers with high metastasis and lethality. Arrestin domain-containing 4 (ARRDC4) is involved in inhibiting cancer glycolytic phenotypes. Brusatol (BR), extracted from Bruceae Fructus, exerts good anti-cancer effects against a number of cancers.

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Allergic rhinitis (AR) is an upper airways chronic inflammatory disease mediated by IgE, which affects 10%-20% of the population. The mainstay for allergic rhinitis nowadays include steroids and antihistamines, but their effects are less than ideal. Many patients therefore seek Chinese medicine for treatment and Yupingfeng Powder is one of the most common formulae prescribed.

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