ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical effectiveness and safety of Modified Zhigancao Granules （炙甘草汤加味颗粒） for preventing the early recurrence following radiofrequency ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation （AF） of qi-yin deficiency syndrome. MethodsA multi-center， randomized， double-blind， placebo-controlled trial was designed. A total of 116 patients with atrial fibrillation of qi-yin deficiency syndrome who underwent radiofrequency ablation for the first time were enrolled from 3 centers， and they were randomly divided into a treatment group （59 cases） and a control group （57 cases）. Both groups received basic western medicine treatment after surgery. In addition， the treatment group was given oral Modified Zhigancao Granules， while the control group was given oral placebo granules. The dosage for both groups was 20 g each time， twice a day， with continuous treatment for 12 weeks. The recurrence of atrial fibrillation in both groups was recorded at 24 hours， 4 weeks， 8 weeks， and 12 weeks after surgery. The serum levels of B-type natriuretic peptide （BNP）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， high-sensitivity C-reactive protein （hs-CRP）， and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） were detected before treatment and 12 weeks after treatment in both groups. The scores of Atrial Fibrillation Effect on QualiTy-of-life （AFEQT） Questionnaire （including scores of the daily life dimension， symptom dimension， treatment worry dimension， treatment satisfaction dimension， and total score） and traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome scores were compared before treatment and at 4 weeks， 8 weeks， and 12 weeks between groups. Safety indicators such as blood routine， urine routine， liver function， and renal function were monitored before and after treatment. ResultsNine of the treatment group and seven of the control group dropped out. Finally， 50 patients in each group were included in the statistical analysis. At 24 hours， 4 weeks， 8 weeks， and 12 weeks after surgery， the recurrence rates of AF in the treatment group were 2.0% （1/50）， 2.0% （1/50）， 4.0% （2/50）， and 10.0% （5/50）， respectively； while those in the control group were 2.0% （1/50）， 26.0% （13/50）， 28.0% （14/50）， and 34.0% （17/50）， respectively. Compared with the control group at the same time points， the early recurrence rates of AF in the treatment group were significantly lower at 4 weeks， 8 weeks， and 12 weeks after surgery （P＜0.01）. Compared with the baseline within group， BNP， hs-CRP， IL-6， and TNF-α in the treatment group all decreased after 12 weeks of treatment （P＜0.05）； the difference in hs-CRP levels （before vs. after treatment） in the treatment group was higher than that in the control group （P＜0.01）. Compared with the baseline within group， both groups showed decreases in the total score of AFEQT Questionnaire， scores of the daily life dimension， treatment worry dimension， symptom dimension， and TCM syndrome scores at 4 weeks， 8 weeks， and 12 weeks after treatment. Meanwhile， the score of the treatment satisfaction dimension of AFEQT increased in both groups （P＜0.01）， and the improvements in all the above scores in the treatment group were superior to those in the control group at all time points （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. All safety indicators of patients in both groups were within the normal range before treatment and at 12 weeks after treatment， and no adverse reactions or adverse events occurred in either group. ConclusionModified Zhigancao Granules can reduce the early recurrence rate following radiofrequency ablation in AF patients with qi-yin deficiency syndrome， improve clinical symptoms and quality of life， suppress inflammatory response， and show good safety.

Objective: To explore the intervention effects of high intensity interval training (HIIT) on glucose metabolism, cortisol (Cor), and sleep quality among college students with comorbid depressive symptoms and obesity, so as to provide a reference for improving sleep quality among college students with comorbid depressive symptoms and obesity. Methods: In March 2023, 45 college students with comorbid depressive symptoms and obesity were recruited and randomly assigned to an exercise group ( n =23) and a control group ( n =22) by random number table method. The exercise group received HIIT intervention for 12 weeks, three times a week, while the control group received no intervention. Blood samples were collected from participants to measure fasting insulin (FINS), fasting blood glucose (FBG), homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), Cor, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) before and after intervention. Statistical analysis was performed using t-test, repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA), simple effect analysis. Results: The repeated measures ANOVA revealed statistically significant time×group interaction effects for body composition (weight, body mass index, percentage of body fat, fat mass, waist to hip ratio), depressive symptoms, PSQI scores and its subdimensions (subjective sleep quality, sleep onset time, sleep efficiency, sleep disorders, daytime dysfunction), as well as FBG, FINS, and HOMA-IR between the exercise group and control group before and after intervention ( F =7.10-53.38, all P <0.05). Simple effect analysis showed that compared to the control group, the exercise group demonstrated significant improvements in body composition (body mass index, fat mass, waist to hip ratio), depressive symptoms, PSQI scores and its sub dimensions (subjective sleep quality, sleep onset time, sleep efficiency, sleep disorders, daytime dysfunction), FBG, FINS, HOMA-IR, and Cor (all P <0.05). Conclusion HIIT can improve the sleep quality of college students with comorbid depressive symptoms and obesity by enhancing glucose metabolism and regulating Cor levels.

Objective:To investigate the effects of dexmedetomidine (DEX) in different doses on circulation fluctuation, anesthesia depth, muscle relaxation and safety during adrenal pheochromocytoma resection.Methods:A total of 78 patients undergoing adrenal pheochromocytoma resection in Shangqiu First people’s Hospital and and the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from Sep.2020 to Sep.2022 were prospectively selected and divided into two groups with 39 cases in each group by random number table method. The 0.2 μg group were given 0.2 μg·kg -1 ·h -1 DEX 30min before general anesthesia induction, and the 0.4 μg group were given 0.4 μg·kg -1 ·h -1 DEX 30min before general anesthesia induction until tumor vessels were completely clamped. The time cycle fluctuation (heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), blood oxygen saturation (SpO 2) ), anesthesia depth, muscle relaxation effect, anesthesia recovery, vasoactive drug use and safety of the two groups were compared. Results:After induction of anesthesia and the end of surgery,HR in the 0.4 μg group was (92.73±9.58) bpm and (84.39±8.65) bpm, both lower than HR in the 0.2 μg group of (103.57±6.91) bpm and (91.53±7.27) bpm, respectively. MAP was (85.30±4.29) mmHg and (80.45±6.38) mmHg, both lower than MAP in the 0.2 μg group of (96.35±5.88) mmHg and (84.92±5.19) mmHg, respectively. After tumor resection, HR and MAP were (80.22±7.30) bpm and (77.46±7.10) mmHg, both higher than the HR and MAP in the 0.2 μg group of (75.14±5.82) bpm and (73.92±6.03) mmHg, respectively ( P<0.05). NI immediately after endotracheal intubation in the 0.4 μg group was (52.23±5.40), lower than that in the 0.2 μg group (58.78±5.92) ( P<0.05) ; The onset time in the 0.4 μg group was (91.00±10.00) s, earlier than that in the 0.2 μg group (105.00±12.00) s ( P<0.05) ; SAS score at tracheal extubation in the 0.4 μg group was 5 (4, 5), lower than that in the 0.2 μg group (4, 3, 4) ( P<0.05) ; The doses of phentolamine, norepinephrine, and nitroglycerin in the 0.4 μg group were (2.64±0.35) mg, (60.42±8.57) μg, and (102.00±12.31) μg/kg·min, respectively, all lower than those in the 0.2 μg group (3.79±0.44) mg, (78.70±10.28) μg, and (113.25±19.67) μg/kg·min ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the total incidence of adverse reactions between the 0.4 μg group and the 0.2 μg group ( P>0.05) . Conclusion:The use of 0.2 μg·kg -1 ·h -1 and 0.4 μg·kg -1 ·h -1 DEX in the resection of pheochromocytoma has high safety. The latter has better anesthetic effect, can reduce the dose of vasoactive drugs, improve the state of muscle relaxation, and help maintain the stability of circulation.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Xiao′er Huangjin Zhike Granules in the treatment of cough caused by acute bronchitis in children, which is defined in TCM terms as a syndrome of phlegm-heat obstructing the lung.Methods:This was a block-randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter clinical trial.From January 2022 to September 2023, 359 children aged 3 to 7 years old diagnosed as acute bronchitis (lung-obstructing phlegm-heat syndrome) were enrolled from 21 participating hospitals and randomly assigned to the experimental group and placebo group in a 3︰1 ratio, and respectively treated with Xiao′er Huangjin Zhike Granules and its matching placebo.Cough resolution/general resolution rate after 7 days of treatment was used as the primary efficacy outcome for both groups.Results:(1)On the seventh day of treatment, the rate of cough disappearance/basically disappearance in the experimental group and placebo group were 73.95% and 57.61% retrospectively, which had statistically significance ( P=0.001).(2)After 7 days of treatment, the median duration of cough disappearance/basic disappearance were 5 days and 6 days in the two groups , with a statistically significant difference ( P=0.006).The area under the curve of cough symptom severity time was 7.20 ± 3.79 in the experimental group and 8.20±4.42 in the placebo group.The difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( P=0.039).(3) After 7 days of treatment, the difference between TCM syndrome score and baseline was -16.0 (-20.0, -15.0) points in the experimental group and -15.0 (-18.0, -12.0) points in the placebo group, with significant difference between the two groups ( P=0.004).In the experimental group, the clinical control rate, the markedly effective rate, the effective rate and the ineffective rate were 49.04%, 28.35%, 16.48% and 6.13% severally; and in the placebo group, the clinical control rate, the markedly effective rate, the effective rate and the ineffective rate were 38.04%, 26.09%, 29.35%, and 6.52% separately, which had statistically significant ( P=0.014).(4) There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse events or adverse reactions during the trial between both groups.Moreover, while adverse reactions in the form of vomiting and diarrhea were occasionally reported, no serious drug-related adverse event or adverse reaction was reported.(5)The tested drug provided good treatment compliance, showing no statistically significant difference from the placebo in terms of compliance rate. Conclusions:Based on the above findings, it can be concluded that Xiao′er Huangjin Zhike Granules provides good safety, efficacy, and treatment compliance in the treatment of cough caused by acute bronchitis, and lung-obstructing phlegm-heat syndrome, in children.

Objective·To use single-cell RNA sequencing(scRNA-Seq)technology to interpret the cellular communication landscape of coronary atherosclerosis(CA),and to explore the dominant cell subsets and their key genes.Methods·The GSE131778 data set was downloaded and preprocessed,and quality controlling,dimension reduction clustering and annotation were carried out.Then cell communication analysis was conducted by using CellChat package to identify dominant cell subsets.The FindAllMarker function was used to screen differentially expressed genes(DEGs)between the dominant cell subpopulation and other cell subpopulations,and its protein-protein interaction(PPI)network was constructed.The DEGs ranked in the top five of the Degree algorithm were taken as key genes.Then,the key genes were matched and mined with the cell communication network analyzed by CellChat to obtain the ligand-receptor pairs(L-R)and the signal pathways mediated by the key genes,and the results were visualized.At the same time,the atherosclerosis mouse model was constructed and RT-PCR was used to detect the expression of key genes in carotid atherosclerosis lesions.Results·A total of 11 cell subsets were identified in CA lesions,including smooth muscle cells,endothelial cells,macrophages,monocytes,etc.Cell communication results showed that CellChat detected 70 significant L-R and 26 related signal pathways in 11 cell subsets.Smooth muscle cell was the dominant cell subgroup with the most significant interaction frequency and intensity with other cell subgroups in the active state of communication.The results of DEGs screening showed that there were 206 DEGs between smooth muscle cell subsets and other cell subsets,among which ITGB2,PTPRC,CCL2,DCN and IGF1 were identified as key genes.The results of cell communication mediated by key genes showed that CCL2 and ACKR1 formed L-R and participated in the communication network between smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells through mediating CCL signaling pathway.ITGB2 formed receptor complexes with ITGAM and ITGAX respectively,and then formed L-R with C3 to mediate the complement signal pathway,participating in the communication network among smooth muscle cells,macrophages and monocytes.The validation results of hub genes in animal experiments were consistent with the results of bioinformatics analysis.Conclusion·Smooth muscle cells are the dominant cells in the pathological process of CA,and have extensive communication networks with other cells.They can construct cellular communication networks with endothelial cells,macrophages and monocytes through CCL and complement signaling pathways mediated by CCL2-ACKR1,C3-(ITGAM+ITGB2)and C3-(ITGAX+ITGB2).

A 11-year old female patient with severe thalassemia, receipt a lentivirus-based cell and gene therapy (CGT) therapy in Shenzhen Children′s Hosptial on July 27th, 2021. At the two follow-up visits after discharge, patient were continuously tested positive for HIV screening through HIV Ag/Ab Combo assay (chemiluminescence Immunoassay), and the viral load results of HIV-1 nucleic acid testing (NAT) were both>5 000 copies/ml. The patient can be diagnosed with HIV infection according to the National Guideline for Detection of HIV/AIDS(2020 Revised Edition). The thorough investigation findings and supplementary experiment results indicated that the false-positive HIV-1 NAT results was caused by cross-reactivity between the target sites detected by conventional HIV-1 NAT reagents and the lentiviral vectors fragments integrated into the genome of patient′s hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. In conclusion, it is important for laboratories to select appropriate HIV-1 NAT testing platforms which won′t cause cross-reactivity for the testing of samples from patients who have been treated with HIV-derived vectors. It is also recommended to design and develop NAT testing platforms with multiple target regions labeled by different fluorescents for HIV NAT supplementation experiment to reduce the risk of false-positive diagnoses of HIV infection.

This study searched the clinical researches on traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） for cardiovascular diseases registered in Chinese Clinical Trial Registry and the US Clinical Trial Registry， the cardiovascular disease-related studies funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China， as well as those published in China National Knowledge Infrastructure （CNKI）， Wanfang database， VIP.com， China Biology Medicine disc （CBMdisc）， Embase， Medline， Cochrane Library， and other databases published cardiovascular disease-related studies from 1 January 2021 to 30 June 2023. In order to analyse and evaluate the research progress of TCM treatment for coronary heart disease， hypertension， heart failure， and arrhythmia， this study aimed at recent research hotspots and research direction. It is found that the research on TCM for cardiovascular diseases was gradually deepening and the high-quality evidence continued to emerge. It is believed that studies related to the prevention and treatment of common cardiovascular diseases by TCM reflected the multi-angle integration of modern technology and pattern differentiation and treatment， closer integration of clinical and basic research， and further optimisation of pattern identification and interventions. On this basis， the research programme and implementation process should be further standardized， and the translation of research results should be emphasized to promote the standardized application and promotion of TCM diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy of TCM health management based on tertiary management system for patients with myocardial infarction （MI）. MethodsA total of 277 patients with non-acute MI were enrolled and given comprehensive TCM health management strategies including health education， lifestyle adjustment， risk factors control， medication and TCM appropriate techniques management through a tertiary management system with "the patient as the core， village/community physicians as the main executive body， and tertiary TCM hospital specialists as the leading body"， for a period of 12 months by using a prospective single-arm cohort study. Through patient reporting and medical records surveys， various indicators before and after 12-month management were collected and compared. The primary efficacy indicators were readmission rate and recurrent exacerbation rate， and the secondary efficacy indicators included disease awareness-related indicators， lifestyle behavior-related indicators， cardiovascular risk factor-related indicators and Canadian cardiovascular society （CCS） cardiac function classification. ResultsA total of 255 patients completed the study and were included in the final analysis. The recurrent exacerbation and readmission rates of patients after management were 23.14% （59 cases） and 20.25% （49 cases）， respectively， significantly lower than 36.08% （92 cases） and 53.72% （130 cases） before management （P＜0.05）. Except for knowledge on diabetes diagnostic criteria with no significant difference before and after management （P＞0.05）， awareness of other knowledge with regard to the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases were improved after management （P＜0.01）， as well as the total score （P＜0.01）. In terms of daily life behaviors， the rates of salty diet， sweet diet and greasy diet were significantly lower than baseline， while the rate of moderate exercise was significantly higher （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）； the rates of ongoing smoking and vigorous exercise were not significantly changed （P＞0.05）. For cardiovascular risk factors， patients' total cholesterol， low-density lipoprotein （LDL） cholesterol， triglycerides， fasting glucose， total depression assessment scale score， and total anxiety assessment scale score were significantly reduced after management （P＜0.01）. Systolic blood pressure and body mass index （BMI） were both higher after management （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）， and there was no statistically significant difference in diastolic blood pressure （P＞0.05）. In terms of the cardiovascular disease risk factors reaching the standard levels， the rate of LDL cholesterol ＜1.8 mmol/L significantly increased （P＜0.01）， while the rate of BMI ＜24 kg/m² and the rate of systolic blood pressure ＜140 mmHg both decreased significantly （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01） from baseline； the diastolic blood pressure and rate of fasting glucose ＜7.0 mmol/L were not significantly changed （P＞0.05）. The patients' CCS cardiac function classification was significantly reduced （P＜0.05）. ConclusionTCM health management based on the tertiary management system can enhance MI patients' awareness of the disease， change poor lifestyle habits， reduce risk factors such as blood lipids and blood glucose， improve anxiety and depression， increase activity tolerance， and reduce their recurrence exacerbation and readmission rates， which is worthy of clinical promotion.