1.A Case of Third-degree Atrioventricular Block after Cardiac Radiofrequency Ablation Treated with the Method of Boosting Qi, Warming Yang and Unblocking Collaterals
Wenkuan LUO ; Jianqi LU ; Meiling TANG ; Puwei HUANG ; Jiatan ZHOU ; Min YANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2023;64(19):2049-2052
Third-degree atrioventricular block is a severe bradyarrhythmia, for which there is no proven effective drugs currently. Permanent pacemaker implantation recommended by the guideline, however, is not suitable for most patients. This paper reported on a case of third-degree atrioventricular block after cardiac radiofrequency ablation who has been treated with the method of boosting qi, warming yang and unblocking collaterals. The TCM syndrome of this case was diagnosed as yang qi depletion and phlegm-stasis blocking the collaterals, for which Baoyuan Decoction and Mahuang Fuzi Xixin Decoction (保元汤合麻黄附子细辛汤) in modification has been used to boost qi, warm yang and raise the sunken, dissolve phlegm, invigorate blood and unblock collaterals. After nearly 7-month treatment, the symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath and fatigue were basically cured, and the electrocardiogram returned to the normal.
2.Clinical Efficacy of Qiangxin Decoction Combined with Baduanjin in Treatment of Elderly Patients with Chronic Heart Failure and Weakness
Yan PANG ; Hao LIN ; Jianqi LU ; Shupei HUANG ; Zhilin PENG ; Meiling TANG ; Puwei HUANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2023;29(4):104-109
ObjectiveChronic heart failure (CHF) is the terminal stage of cardiovascular disease. The adverse cardiovascular events of CHF patients with weakness have increased significantly. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a good effect on CHF. However,there are few reports on the clinical observation of the treatment of CHF with weakness in elderly patients by TCM combined with conventional health-preserving exercises. This study aimed to explore the clinical efficacy of Qiangxin decoction combined with Baduanjin in the treatment of elderly patients with CHF and weakness. MethodSixty CHF patients with Qi deficiency,blood stasis,and water retention syndrome admitted to the Cardiovascular Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine from January 2020 to December 2021 were enrolled. The patients in the control group were treated with conventional western medicine according to the guidelines,while those in the treatment group received additional Qiangxin decoction and Baduanjin exercise based on the therapeutic protocol of the control group. The levels of serum N-terminal B-type brain natriuretic peptide precursor (NT-proBNP),creatine kinase (CK),lactate dehydrogenase (LDH),free fatty acid (FFA),left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF),left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LEVDD),6-minute walk distance (6MWD),Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ), and Tilburg Frailty Indicator (TFI) scores of the two groups were observed before and one month after treatment. At the same time,the re-admission within three months was compared between the two groups. ResultThere was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of the general data and the therapeutic indexes before treatment. After treatment,the NT-proBNP,CK,LDH,FFA,LVEDD,MLHFQ, and TFI scores of the two groups were lower than those before treatment(P<0.05,P<0.01), and the LVEF and 6MWD were higher(P<0.05,P<0.01). The efficacy of the treatment group was superior to that of the control group after treatment (P<0.05,P<0.01). The re-admission rate within three months in the treatment group was 7.1% (2/28), lower than 30.8% (8/26) in the control group (χ2=4.897,P<0.05). ConclusionQiangxin decoction combined with Baduanjin is helpful to improve the body energy metabolism,heart function,quality of life,and weakness level of elderly CHF patients with weakness, and reduce the rate of re-admission.
3.Effects of Qiangxin decoction on myocardial mitochondrial homeostasis and energy metabolism in chronic heart failure rats
Yan PANG ; Meiling MAO ; Jianqi LU ; Jiayong CHEN ; Meiling TANG ; Puwei HUANG
China Pharmacy 2024;35(15):1831-1836
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of Qiangxin decoction on myocardial mitochondrial and energy metabolism in rats with chronic heart failure (CHF) based on mitophagy. METHODS Male SD rats were collected to establish CHF model by ligating the left anterior descending branch of coronary artery. The successful modeling rats were divided into model group, Qiangxin decoction group [12.25 g/(kg·d), calculated by crude drug], captopril group [10.38 mg/(kg·d)], and Qiangxin decoction+captopril group (the same usage and dosage as single drug group) according to a random number table method, with 8 rats in each group. Another 8 normal rats were selected and received threading in the left anterior descending branch of the coronary artery without ligation as the sham operation group. Starting from the second day after successful modeling, the rats in administration groups were given relevant drug intragastrically, twice a day, for consecutive 28 days. After the last medication, the levels of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), adenosine monophosphate (AMP) and free fatty acid (FFA) in infarcted myocardial tissues were detected, the pathological changes and mitochondrial morphology of the infarcted myocardial tissue were observed, as well as the protein expressions of B cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2 related X protein (Bax), TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1), p62 were detected in each group. RESULTS Compared with the sham operation group, the infarcted myocardial tissue fibrosis was changed evidently, with a large number of mitochondrial swelling and fusion, and internal cristae rupture; the levels of AMP and FFA, the protein expressions of Bax and p62 were all increased or up-regulated significantly in infarcted myocardial tissue, while the level of ATP, and the protein expressions of Bcl-2 and TBK1 were all decreased or down-regulated significantly (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the pathological changes of infarcted myocardial tissue and mitochondrial swelling had been improved; the levels of AMP and FFA, and the protein expressions of Bax and p62 in infarcted myocardial tissue were significantly decreased or down-regulated in administration groups, while the level of ATP, and the protein expressions of Bcl-2 and TBK1 were increased or up-regulated significantly (P<0.05). And the effect of Qiangxin decoction+captopril group was better than that of single drug group. CONCLUSIONS Qiangxin decoction can alleviate myocardial fibrosis and mitochondrial swelling in CHF rats, and improve their myocardial energy metabolism, which may be related to regulating the expression of Bcl-2, Bax, TBK1 and p62 proteins and promoting myocardial mitophagy.