1.Myocardial Metabolomics Reveals Mechanism of Shenfu Injection in Ameliorating Energy Metabolism Remodeling in Rat Model of Chronic Heart Failure
Xinyue NING ; Zhenyu ZHAO ; Mengna ZHANG ; Yang GUO ; Zhijia XIANG ; Kun LIAN ; Zhixi HU ; Lin LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(5):178-186
ObjectiveTo examine the influences of Shenfu injection on the endogenous metabolic byproducts in the myocardium of the rat model exhibiting chronic heart failure, thus deciphering the therapeutic mechanism of the Qi-reinforcing and Yang-warming method. MethodsSD rats were randomly allocated into a control group and a modeling group. Chronic heart failure with heart-Yang deficiency syndrome in rats was modeled by multi-point subcutaneous injection of isoproterenol, and the rats were fed for 14 days after modeling. The successfully modeled rats were randomized into model, Shenfu injection (6.0 mL·kg-1), and trimetazidine (10 mg·kg-1) groups and treated with corresponding agents for 15 days. The control group and the model group were injected with equal doses of normal saline, and the samples were collected after the intervention was completed. Cardiac color ultrasound was performed. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to observe histopathological morphology, and the serum level of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The mitochondrial morphological and structural changes of cardiomyocytes were observed by transmission electron microscopy, and the metabolic profiling was carried out by ultra high performance liquid chromatography-quantitative exactive-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QE-MS). Differential metabolites were screened and identified by orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) and other methods, and then the MetaboAnalyst database was used for further screening. The relevant biological pathways were obtained through pathway enrichment analysis. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was established to evaluate the diagnostic value of each potential biomarker for myocardial injury and the evaluation value for drug efficacy. ResultsThe results of color ultrasound showed that Shenfu Injection improved the cardiac function indexes of model rats (P<0.05). The results of HE staining showed that Shenfu injection effectively alleviated the pathological phenomena such as myocardial tissue structure disorder and inflammatory cell infiltration in model rats. The results of ELISA showed that Shenfu injection effectively regulated the serum NT-proBNP level in the model rats. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that Shenfu injection effectively restored the mitochondrial morphological structure. The results of metabolomics showed that the metabolic phenotypes of myocardial samples presented markedly differences between groups. Nine differential metabolites could be significantly reversed in the Shenfu injection group, involving three metabolic pathways: pyruvate metabolism, histidine metabolism, and citric acid cycle (TCA cycle). The results of ROC analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) values of all metabolites were between 0.75 and 1.0, indicating that the differential metabolites had high diagnostic accuracy for myocardial injury, and the changes in their expression levels could be used as potential markers for efficacy evaluation. ConclusionShenfu injection significantly alleviated the damage of cardiac function, myocardium, and mitochondrial structure in the rat model of chronic heart failure with heart-Yang deficiency syndrome by ameliorating energy metabolism remodeling. Reinforcing Qi and warming Yang is a key method for treating chronic heart failure with heart-Yang deficiency syndrome.
2.Normalized Creatinine-to-Cystatin C Ratio and Risk of Cardiometabolic Multimorbidity in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Insights from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study
Honglin SUN ; Zhenyu WU ; Guang WANG ; Jia LIU
Diabetes & Metabolism Journal 2025;49(3):448-461
Background:
Normalized creatinine-to-cystatin C ratio (NCCR) was reported to approximate relative skeletal muscle mass and diabetes risk. However, the association between NCCR and cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CMM) remains elusive. This study aimed to explore their relationship in a large-scale prospective cohort.
Methods:
This study included 5,849 middle-age and older participants from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) enrolled between 2011 and 2012. The baseline NCCR was determined as creatinine (mg/dL)/cystatin C (mg/L)×10/body mass (kg). CMM was defined as the simultaneous occurrence of two or more of the following conditions: heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Logistic regression analysis and Cox regression analysis were employed to estimate the relationship between NCCR and CMM. The joint effect of body mass index and NCCR on the risk of CMM were further analyzed.
Results:
During a median 4-year follow-up, 227 (3.9%) participants developed CMM. The risk of CMM was significantly decreased with per standard deviation increase of NCCR (odds ratio, 0.72; 95% confidence interval, 0.62 to 0.85) after adjustment for confounders (P<0.001). Further sex-specific analysis found significant negative associations between NCCR and CMM in female either without or with one CMM component at baseline, which was attenuated in males but remained statistically significant among those with one basal CMM component. Notably, non-obese individuals with high NCCR levels had the lowest CMM risk compared to obese counterparts with low NCCR levels in both genders.
Conclusion
High NCCR was independently associated with reduced risk of CMM in middle-aged and older adults in China, particularly females.
3.Molecular mechanisms and clinical applications of tumor budding in hepatocellular carcinoma
Hongbin ZHANG ; Kai TAN ; Zhenyu YANG ; Shengxiong JIA ; Xilin DU
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(5):963-967
Tumor budding is a distinct pathomorphological feature observed in various types of solid tumor. In recent years, tumor budding has been recognized as an important biological feature associated with tumor invasion and metastasis, and it has become a new focus in the research on tumor progression. Although studies have explored the role of tumor budding in different types of tumor, there are studies in the field of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This article systematically reviews the research advances in tumor budding in HCC, with a focus on the mechanism of tumor budding, the association between tumor budding and tumor progression, and the potential application of tumor budding in prognostic assessment, in order to provide new insights and strategies for the early diagnosis and treatment of HCC.
4.Genomic characteristics of monkeypox virus from 8 cases in Changning District, Shanghai
Xiaoding HE ; Yang XU ; Ning YIN ; Zhenyu WANG ; Jiayin GUO
Shanghai Journal of Preventive Medicine 2025;37(4):332-335
ObjectiveTo investigate the epidemiological feature of Mpox infection and genetic characteristics of Mpox viruses (MPXVs), so as to understand the etiological evolution of the pathogen. MethodsThe cases infected with MPXVs were originated from Changning District, Shanghai from July 20 to August 24 in 2023. Epidemiological investigations were conducted, and throat swabs, anal swabs, or vesicle fluid were collected for MPXVs nucleic acid testing. High-throughput sequencing was performed using Miniseq of the Illumina sequencing platform, and thereafter the sequences were concatenated and analyzed using the online analysis tool Nextclade. An evolutionary tree was constructed using the MEGA 11 software. ResultsAll 8 cases were male, with an average age of (35.76±7.00) years. Among them, 6 cases were identified through active hospital visits, and 2 cases were discovered during contact tracing for Mpox cases. Within the 21 days preceding the disease onset, all cases had male-male sexual behaviors, and the incubation period ranged from 6 to 10 days. 3 cases had a history of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). MPXVs nucleic acid testing indicated that the detection rate of MPXVs was found to be 25.00% for throat swabs, 87.50% for anal swabs, and 100.00% for vesicle fluid, with statistically significant differences (χ2=11.052, P=0.004). Sequencing analyses using the online tool Nextclade indicated that all 8 MPXVs belonged to the West African clade Ⅱb, 4 MPXVs were classified as C.1 sub-lineages, and 4 MPXVs were identified as C.1.1 sub-lineages. Phylogenetic analysis using MEGA 11 indicated that 5 MPXVs were classified as Lineage C.1.1, closely related to the prevalent strains in Portugal and other European regions. ConclusionThe MPXVs sequences from Changning District are clssified into clade Ⅱb, lineage C.1.1. The detection rates of vesicle fluid and anal swabs for MPXVs are significantly higher than that of throat swabs.
5.Research Progress on the Mechanism of Lipocalin-2 in Neurological Diseases
Yongtai ZHOU ; Zhenyu YANG ; Yan LI ; Jiajing WU ; Bo ZHAO
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2025;16(2):330-337
Lipocalin-2 (LCN2), a member of the human lipocalin family, has been demonstrated to be closely associated with diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and renal disorders. Recent studies have indicated that LCN2 plays a significant regulatory role in the pathogenesis and progression of various neurological diseases by mediating pathways such as inflammation, oxidative stress, and ferroptosis. This article reviews the research advancements on the mechanism of LCN2 in neurological disorders, including cerebrovascular diseases, cognitive impairment disorders, Parkinson's disease, depression, and anxiety disorders, aiming to enhance clinical understanding.
6.Analysis of major food consumption frequencies among children aged 6-17 years in China
Chinese Journal of School Health 2025;46(4):494-499
Objective:
To analyze the consumption frequency of major foods among Chinese children aged 6-17 years old, and to provide a basis for optimizing the dietary structure of children in China.
Methods:
Using data from the China Nutrition and Health System Survey and Application Program for Children 0-18 years old, 56 734 children aged 6-17 years old from North, Norththeast East, Central, South, Southwest and Northwest seven regions in China were selected for the study using stratified cluster random sampling from 2019 to 2021. A food frequency questionnaire was used to investigate the intake frequency of eight food groups in a month, including fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, livestock and poultry meats, aquatic products, eggs, dairy products, legumes, and cereals and potatoes. The foods were grouped according to whether they met the recommended intake criteria outlined in the Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents 2022. The〖KG*2〗χ2 test was used to compare the differences in the proportion of childrens intake frequency of each food group meeting the standard in different regions and age groups.
Results:
The proportions of Chinese children aged 6-17 years who consumed fresh vegetables and cereals and potatoes ≥3 times/d were 12.1% and 67.2%, respectively. The proportions of children who consumed fresh fruits, livestock and poultry meats, eggs and dairy products ≥1 time/d were 50.8%, 58.8%, 36.0% and 54.3%, respectively. The proportion of legumes consumed ≥4 times/week was 37.4%, and the proportion of aquatic products consumed ≥2 times/week was 39.7%. Fresh vegetables (5.5%), fresh fruits (33.1%), and dairy products (36.4%) had the lowest frequency of meeting the recommended standards in South China, and aquatic products (27.4%) and eggs (21.1%) had the lowest frequency of meeting the recommended standards in Northwest (P<0.008 3).
Conclusion
The overall intake frequency of fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, legumes, and dairy products are insufficient among Chinese children, with significant regional variations.
7.Overview of Studies on the Intervention of Chinese Medicinals in Energy Metabolism Reconstruction in Heart Failure
Xinyue NING ; Wenxiao LI ; Zhenyu ZHAO ; Yang GUO ; Panpan ZHOU ; Ludan ZHAO ; Lin LI
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(10):1073-1077
Energy metabolism reconstruction is the new target of the treatment of heart failure. By combing the researches of Chinese medicinals for energy metabolism reconstruction of heart failure, it was found that Chinese medicinal compound formula and single Chinese medicinal have a certain role in regulating energy metabolism, mainly through three aspects, including the optimization of substrate utilization, improvement of mitochondrial structure, function, and homeostasis, and improvement of mitochondrial energy transport, so as to make the energy metabolism of the cardiomyocyte adjusted in the direction of beneficial to the organism, increasing the supply of energy, and improving the cardiac function.
8.Association of dining locations with nutritional status among Chinese children aged 6-17 years
Chinese Journal of School Health 2025;46(5):642-646
Objective:
To analyze the association of eating dining locations and their association with nutritional status among Chinese children aged 6-17 years,so as to provide reference for guiding children s reasonable diet.
Methods:
Stratified random cluster sampling was used to select children aged 6 to 17 years from 28 cities and rural areas of 14 provinces in East, North, Central, South, Southwest, Northwest, Northeast of China, and a total of 52 535 children were included in the study from 2019 to 2021. Information including dining locations, demographic characteristics, dietary intakes and physical activity were collected through a questionnaire survey. Fasting body height and weight were measured in the morning. Unordered multiclass Logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the relationship between dining locations and nutritional status in children.
Results:
Regarding children s dining locations, 66.3% ate breakfast at home,25.8% ate breakfast at school,7.9% ate breakfast outside (small dining tables, restaurants, stalls, etc.); 67.7% ate dinner at home,29.0% ate dinner at school,3.3% ate dinner outside; and 63.6% ate lunch at school,30.8% ate lunch at home,5.7% ate lunch outside. The prevalence rates of overweight/obesity and undernutrition were 28.6% and 9.3%, respectively. The adjusted multiclass Logistic regression analysis (controlling for age, region, parental education, household income, total energy intake, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity) demonstrated that, compared to eating at home, school based breakfast and dinner consumption was associated with significantly lower overweight/obesity risks for both genders (boys: breakfast OR =0.70, 95% CI =0.65-0.75; dinner OR =0.80, 95% CI = 0.74- 0.86; girls: breakfast OR = 0.89 , 95% CI = 0.82-0.96; dinner OR =0.88, 95% CI =0.81-0.95), whereas eating lunch away from home significantly increased overweight/obesity risks (boys: OR =1.32, 95% CI =1.17-1.48; girls: OR =1.43, 95% CI =1.26- 1.62 ), with all associations being statistically significant ( P <0.05). After adjusting for confounding factors, boys who ate breakfast away from home showed a significantly reduced risk of undernutrition ( OR =0.80,95% CI =0.66-0.97), while those consuming lunch away from home had an increased risk ( OR =1.26, 95% CI =1.01-1.57) ( P <0.05).
Conclusions
The choice of dining locations for children is becoming more diverse, and a relatively high proportion of children eat meals outside the home and at school. Eating out have a higher risk of malnutrition for children. School feeding may be beneficial to children s physical health.
9.Normalized Creatinine-to-Cystatin C Ratio and Risk of Cardiometabolic Multimorbidity in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Insights from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study
Honglin SUN ; Zhenyu WU ; Guang WANG ; Jia LIU
Diabetes & Metabolism Journal 2025;49(3):448-461
Background:
Normalized creatinine-to-cystatin C ratio (NCCR) was reported to approximate relative skeletal muscle mass and diabetes risk. However, the association between NCCR and cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CMM) remains elusive. This study aimed to explore their relationship in a large-scale prospective cohort.
Methods:
This study included 5,849 middle-age and older participants from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) enrolled between 2011 and 2012. The baseline NCCR was determined as creatinine (mg/dL)/cystatin C (mg/L)×10/body mass (kg). CMM was defined as the simultaneous occurrence of two or more of the following conditions: heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Logistic regression analysis and Cox regression analysis were employed to estimate the relationship between NCCR and CMM. The joint effect of body mass index and NCCR on the risk of CMM were further analyzed.
Results:
During a median 4-year follow-up, 227 (3.9%) participants developed CMM. The risk of CMM was significantly decreased with per standard deviation increase of NCCR (odds ratio, 0.72; 95% confidence interval, 0.62 to 0.85) after adjustment for confounders (P<0.001). Further sex-specific analysis found significant negative associations between NCCR and CMM in female either without or with one CMM component at baseline, which was attenuated in males but remained statistically significant among those with one basal CMM component. Notably, non-obese individuals with high NCCR levels had the lowest CMM risk compared to obese counterparts with low NCCR levels in both genders.
Conclusion
High NCCR was independently associated with reduced risk of CMM in middle-aged and older adults in China, particularly females.
10.Normalized Creatinine-to-Cystatin C Ratio and Risk of Cardiometabolic Multimorbidity in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Insights from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study
Honglin SUN ; Zhenyu WU ; Guang WANG ; Jia LIU
Diabetes & Metabolism Journal 2025;49(3):448-461
Background:
Normalized creatinine-to-cystatin C ratio (NCCR) was reported to approximate relative skeletal muscle mass and diabetes risk. However, the association between NCCR and cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CMM) remains elusive. This study aimed to explore their relationship in a large-scale prospective cohort.
Methods:
This study included 5,849 middle-age and older participants from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) enrolled between 2011 and 2012. The baseline NCCR was determined as creatinine (mg/dL)/cystatin C (mg/L)×10/body mass (kg). CMM was defined as the simultaneous occurrence of two or more of the following conditions: heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Logistic regression analysis and Cox regression analysis were employed to estimate the relationship between NCCR and CMM. The joint effect of body mass index and NCCR on the risk of CMM were further analyzed.
Results:
During a median 4-year follow-up, 227 (3.9%) participants developed CMM. The risk of CMM was significantly decreased with per standard deviation increase of NCCR (odds ratio, 0.72; 95% confidence interval, 0.62 to 0.85) after adjustment for confounders (P<0.001). Further sex-specific analysis found significant negative associations between NCCR and CMM in female either without or with one CMM component at baseline, which was attenuated in males but remained statistically significant among those with one basal CMM component. Notably, non-obese individuals with high NCCR levels had the lowest CMM risk compared to obese counterparts with low NCCR levels in both genders.
Conclusion
High NCCR was independently associated with reduced risk of CMM in middle-aged and older adults in China, particularly females.


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