1.Exploration in Pathological Mechanisms of Myocardial Infarction and Osteoporosis Based on "Heart-bone" Axis Theory
Yuzhuo ZHANG ; Qi SHANG ; Hui REN ; Bin LIU ; Jingzhi ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(3):251-257
Myocardial infarction (MI) and osteoporosis (OP), as two prevalent metabolic diseases with high morbidity and mortality rates, are respectively characterized by cardiovascular system dysfunction and bone homeostasis imbalance, collectively posing significant global public health challenges. While clinically often considered as independent diseases, recent studies have revealed shared pathological mechanisms between the two. This study initiated its exploration from the traditional Chinese medicine concept of the "heart-bone" axis, systematically analyzing the correlation between MI and OP from perspectives including hemodynamics, neuroendocrinology, calcium homeostasis, inflammation and vascular injury, as well as hormone levels. By discussing the pathological mechanisms of "heart disease affecting the bones and bone disease affecting the heart", the study also elucidated advancements in both Western and traditional Chinese medicine treatments. The goal is to provide novel insights and methodologies for the prevention and treatment of "heart-bone comorbidities", thereby facilitating comprehensive management of cardiovascular and skeletal diseases.
2.Exploration in Pathological Mechanisms of Myocardial Infarction and Osteoporosis Based on "Heart-bone" Axis Theory
Yuzhuo ZHANG ; Qi SHANG ; Hui REN ; Bin LIU ; Jingzhi ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(3):251-257
Myocardial infarction (MI) and osteoporosis (OP), as two prevalent metabolic diseases with high morbidity and mortality rates, are respectively characterized by cardiovascular system dysfunction and bone homeostasis imbalance, collectively posing significant global public health challenges. While clinically often considered as independent diseases, recent studies have revealed shared pathological mechanisms between the two. This study initiated its exploration from the traditional Chinese medicine concept of the "heart-bone" axis, systematically analyzing the correlation between MI and OP from perspectives including hemodynamics, neuroendocrinology, calcium homeostasis, inflammation and vascular injury, as well as hormone levels. By discussing the pathological mechanisms of "heart disease affecting the bones and bone disease affecting the heart", the study also elucidated advancements in both Western and traditional Chinese medicine treatments. The goal is to provide novel insights and methodologies for the prevention and treatment of "heart-bone comorbidities", thereby facilitating comprehensive management of cardiovascular and skeletal diseases.
3.Shashen Maidong Tang Enhances Efficacy of Chemotherapy in Mouse Model of Lewis Lung Cancer by Modulating JAK2/STAT3 Signaling Pathway
Lin YU ; Yaoyao WANG ; Limin LIU ; Zuowei HU ; Yanping ZHOU ; Shang WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(5):1-10
ObjectiveTo predict the mechanism through which Shasheng Maidong Tang enhances the efficacy of chemotherapy for lung cancer via network pharmacology and validate the prediction results in animal experiments. MethodsThe potential mechanism through which Shasheng Maidong Tang enhances the efficacy of chemotherapy for lung cancer was predicted by network pharmacology, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), and molecular docking methods. C57/BL6 mice were assigned into normal, model, cisplatin, and Shasheng Maidong Tang+cisplatin groups. In addition to the normal group, the remaining groups were injected subcutaneously with 0.2 mL of 1×107 cells·mL-1 Lewis lung cancer cells to establish the Lewis lung cancer model. The daily gavage dose of Shasheng Maidong Tang was 3.58 g·kg-1, and the concentration of cisplatin intraperitoneally injected on every other day was 2 mg·kg-1. Drugs were administered for 14 d. The changes in the tumor volume and the rate of tumor suppression were monitored, and the tumor histopathological changes were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed to measure the interleukin (IL)-6 and interferon (IFN)-γ levels in peripheral blood. Real-time PCR was performed to quantify the mRNA levels of Janus kinase 2 (JAK2), signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1), and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in the tumor tissue of mice. Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of JAK2, STAT3, B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase-3 (Caspase-3), and Pim-1 proto1 (PIM1) in the tumor tissue. Immunohistochemistry was employed to detect the expression of Bcl-2 and PIM1 in the tumor tissue. ResultsNetwork pharmacological predictions indicated that Shasheng Maidong Tang might enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy for lung cancer by regulating nitrogen metabolism, AGE-RAGE signaling pathway, cancer pathway, and JAK/STAT signaling pathway. The experimental results demonstrated that tumor volume in the cisplatin group and Shasheng Maidong Tang+cisplatin group was reduced compared with the model group, with statistically distinct differences observed on days 14, 17, 20 post modeling (P<0.05). Notably, the Shasheng Maidong Tang+cisplatin therapy further decreased tumor volume compared with the cisplatin group, showing marked reductions on days 17 and 20 (P<0.05), consistent with trends visualized in tumor volume comparison charts. The Shasheng Maidong Tang+cisplatin group exhibited higher tumor inhibition rate than the cisplatin group (P<0.05). Histopathological analysis via HE staining revealed that the tumors in the model group displayed frequent nuclear mitosis, densely arranged cells, hyperchromatic nuclei, and no necrosis. Cisplatin treatment induced partial necrosis and vacuolization, while the Shasheng Maidong Tang+cisplatin group exhibited extensive necrotic regions, maximal vacuolization, disarranged tumor cells, and minimal mitotic activity. Compared with the model group, the cisplatin group and the Shasheng Maidong Tang+cisplatin group showed elevated level of IFN-γ (P<0.01) and declined level of IL-6 (P<0.01) in the peripheral blood. Compared with the cisplatin group, the Shasheng Maidong Tang+cisplatin group presented elevated level of IFN-γ (P<0.01) and lowered level of IL-6 (P<0.01) in the peripheral blood. Compared with the model group, the cisplatin group and the Shasheng Maidong Tang+cisplatin groups showed down-regulated mRNA levels of JAK2 and STAT3 (P<0.01) and up-regulated mRNA level STAT1 (P<0.01). Compared with the cisplatin group, the Shasheng Maidong Tang+cisplatin group presented down-regulated mRNA levels of JAK2 and STAT3 (P<0.01) and up-regulated mRNA level of STAT1 (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the cisplatin group and the Shasheng Maidong Tang+cisplatin group showed down-regulated protein levels of JAK2 (P<0.01), Bcl-2 (P<0.01), PIM1 (P<0.01), and STAT3 (P<0.05), and up-regulated protein level of Caspase-3 (P<0.01). Compared with the cisplatin group, Shasheng Maidong Tang+cisplatin group presented down-regulated protein levels of JAK2 (P<0.01), Bcl-2 (P<0.01), PIM1 (P<0.01), STAT3 (P<0.05), and up-regulated protein level of Caspase-3 (P<0.01). The Bcl-2 and PIM1 expression results obtained by immunohistochemistry were consistent with those of Western blot. ConclusionShasheng Maidong Tang may enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy in the mouse model of Lewis lung cancer by regulating the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.
4.Mechanism of Xiaozheng Zhitong Paste in Alleviating Bone Cancer Pain by Regulating Microglial Pyroptosis Based on PINK1/Parkin/NLRP3 Signaling Pathway
Lingyun WANG ; Guangda ZHENG ; Lu SHANG ; Juanxia REN ; Changlin LI ; Dongtao LI ; Haixiao LIU ; Yaohua CHEN ; Guiping YANG ; Yanju BAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(5):80-90
ObjectiveThe paper aims to investigate the mechanism by which Xiaozheng Zhitong paste (XZP) alleviates bone cancer pain (BCP) through regulating the PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1)/Parkin-mediated mitophagy-NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome pathway to suppress microglial pyroptosis. MethodsLipopolysaccharide (LPS) and LPS-adenosine triphosphate (ATP) were used to establish an inflammation and pyroptosis model in microglial cells. The cells were randomly divided into the following groups: control group, LPS group, LPS+low-dose XZP group, LPS+high-dose XZP group, LPS-ATP group, LPS-ATP+low-dose XZP group, LPS-ATP+high-dose XZP group, LPS-ATP+XZP group, and LPS-ATP+XZP+CsA group. Techniques including terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western blot, and confocal fluorescence staining were employed to assess the effects of XZP on microglial apoptosis, inflammatory cytokine release, inflammasome activation, pyroptosis, and mitophagy. ResultsIn vitro experiments showed that compared with the blank group, the LPS group exhibited significantly increased levels of microglial apoptosis and pro-inflammatory factors interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)(P<0.01), along with significantly upregulated protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and phosphorylated nuclear factor-κB p65 (p-NF-κB p65) (P<0.01). Compared with the LPS group, the high-dose LPS-XZP group significantly reduced the level of apoptosis (P<0.01) and the content of the aforementioned pro-inflammatory factors (P<0.01). Both the low- and high-dose LPS-XZP groups dose-dependently downregulated the protein expression of iNOS, COX-2, and p-NF-κB p65 (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the blank group, the LPS-ATP group showed significantly upregulated expression of pyroptosis-related proteins, including Caspase-1/pro-Caspase-1, N-terminal fragment of gasdermin D (GSDMD-N)/full-length gasdermin D (GSDMD-F), NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC), IL-1β precursor (pro-IL-1β), and mature IL-1β (P<0.01). The levels of pyroptotic factors IL-1β and IL-18 were significantly elevated (P<0.01), and membrane pore formation and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were significantly increased (P<0.01). Compared with the LPS-ATP group, both the low- and high-dose LPS-ATP+XZP groups dose-dependently downregulated the expression of the aforementioned pyroptosis-related proteins (P<0.05, P<0.01). The low-dose LPS-ATP+XZP group reduced IL-1β levels (P<0.01), while the high-dose group reduced both IL-1β and IL-18 levels (P<0.01) Both the low- and high-dose LPS-ATP+XZP groups dose-dependently reduced membrane pore formation and intracellular ROS production (P<0.01). Compared with the blank group, the LPS-ATP group showed significantly reduced expression of mitophagy-related proteins PINK1 and Parkin, and a decreased ratio of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3Ⅱ(LC3Ⅱ) to LC3Ⅰ(P<0.01), while p62 expression was significantly increased (P<0.01). Mitochondrial ROS levels were significantly enhanced (P<0.01). Compared with the LPS-ATP group, both the low- and high-dose LPS-ATP+XZP groups dose-dependently reversed the expression of these proteins (P<0.05, P<0.01) and reduced mitochondrial ROS levels (P<0.01). After treatment with the mitophagy inhibitor cyclosporin A (CsA), the beneficial effects of XZP on mitochondrial function and its inhibitory effects on pyroptosis-related protein expression were significantly reversed (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionXZP reduces ROS levels by activating PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy, thereby inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation and microglial pyroptosis, which provides new molecular evidence for the mechanism by which XZP alleviates BCP.
5.Xiaozheng Zhitong Paste Relieves Bone Cancer Pain in Mice by Alleviating Activation of Microglia in Spinal Cord and Damage to Neurons via Blocking PAR2/NF-κB/NLRP3 Pathway
Guangda ZHENG ; Linghan MENG ; Lu SHANG ; Juanxia REN ; Dongtao LI ; Haixiao LIU ; Lingyun WANG ; Changlin LI ; Yaohua CHEN ; Guiping YANG ; Yanju BAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(5):91-100
ObjectiveTo investigate the effects and underlying mechanisms of Xiaozheng Zhitong Paste (XZP) on bone cancer pain (BCP). MethodsThirty female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into five groups: a Sham group, a BCP group, a BCP+low-dose XZP group, a BCP+high-dose XZP group, and a BCP+high-dose XZP + protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) agonist GB-110 group. BCP mice model was constructed by injecting Lewis lung carcinoma cells into the femoral cavity of the right leg, which was followed by being treated with XZP for 21 d. After 21 d, the mice were sacrificed. Nissl staining was used to evaluate the survival of spinal cord neurons. Immunofluorescence staining was conducted to localize ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba1) and neuronal nuclear antigen (NeuN) in spinal cord tissue, thereby assessing microglial activation and neuronal survival. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was employed to measure the levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), interleukin-4 (IL-4), and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in spinal cord tissue. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) was used to detect mRNA expression levels associated with M1/M2 polarization of microglia. Western blot analysis was performed to examine the expression of proteins related to microglial polarization as well as those involved in the PAR2/nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB)/NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) signaling pathway in the spinal cord. ResultsCompared with the Sham group, the spinal cord neurons were damaged, the number of Nissl-positive spinal cord neurons in the spinal cord tissue was significantly reduced (P<0.01), and the rate of NeuN-positive cells was significantly decreased (P<0.01). The spinal cord microglia were activated, the inflammatory level of the spinal cord tissue was enhanced, and Iba1 staining was significantly enhanced (P<0.01). The levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, TGF-β, IL-4 and IL-10 were significantly increased (P<0.01). The mRNA expressions of IL-1β, TNF-α and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were significantly increased (P<0.01), and the expression of PAR2, NLRP3, ASC and NF-κB p65 proteins in the spinal cord tissue of the BCP mice was significantly enhanced (P<0.01). Compared with the BCP group, high-dose XZP treatment significantly increased the number of Nissl-positive spinal cord neurons in the BCP mice (P<0.01), significantly enhanced the rate of NeuN-positive cells in the spinal cord tissue, and significantly weakened Iba1 staining (P<0.01). In addition, the levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 were significantly decreased, while the levels of TGF-β, IL-4, and IL-10 were significantly increased (P<0.05, P<0.01). The mRNA expression levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, and iNOS were decreased, whereas those of cluster of differentiation 206 (CD206), arginase-1 (Arg-1), and YM1/2 were significantly increased (P<0.05, P<0.01). Low-dose and high-dose XZP treatment significantly decreased the expression of PAR2, NLRP3, ASC, and NF-κB p65 proteins in the spinal cord tissue (P<0.05, P<0.01). These effects could all be significantly eliminated by the PAR2 agonist GB-110. ConclusionXZP can mitigate BCP in mice, which may be achieved through blocking the activated PAR2/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway.
6.Traditional Chinese Medicine for Cancer Pain Management: A Review
Lingyun WANG ; Guangda ZHENG ; Lu SHANG ; Juanxia REN ; Changlin LI ; Dongtao LI ; Haixiao LIU ; Yaohua CHEN ; Guiping YANG ; Yanju BAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(5):114-123
Cancer pain is one of the most common complications in patients with malignant tumors, severely affecting their quality of life. Its pathogenesis involves complex interactions among the tumor microenvironment, peripheral sensitization, and central sensitization. The tumor microenvironment initiates peripheral pain sensitization by secreting algogenic mediators, activating ion channels and related receptor signaling pathways, driving abnormal osteoclast activation, and mediating neuro-immune crosstalk. Persistent nociceptive input further triggers increased excitability of central neurons, activation of glial cells, and neuroinflammatory cascade reactions, ultimately leading to central pain sensitization. Although traditional opioid drugs can alleviate pain to some extent, they still have many limitations, such as incomplete analgesia, drug tolerance, and adverse reactions. In recent years, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) compounds have made continuous progress in the treatment of cancer pain. Studies have shown that they can not only effectively relieve cancer pain and reduce the dosage of opioids but also significantly improve patients' quality of life. TCM treatment of cancer pain follows the principle of syndrome differentiation and treatment. Based on this, targeted therapeutic principles have been proposed, including promoting blood circulation, removing stasis, regulating Qi, and unblocking collaterals; tonifying the kidney, replenishing essence, warming Yang, and dispersing cold, activating blood, resolving phlegm, detoxifying, and dispersing nodules, as well as strengthening the body, replenishing deficiency, and harmonizing Qi and blood. Modern research indicates that TCM compounds can exert synergistic effects through multiple pathways, inhibiting inflammatory responses, regulating nerve conduction, intervening in bone metabolism and related gene expression, thereby producing anti-inflammatory and bone-protective effects to achieve the goal of alleviating cancer pain. This article systematically elaborates on the pathogenesis of cancer pain, the clinical application of TCM in treating cancer pain, and its related mechanisms of action, aiming to provide a theoretical basis and new strategies for the integration of TCM into comprehensive cancer pain management.
7.Discussion on Treatment of Cancer Pain with Modified Wumeiwan Based on Jueyin Syndrome
Haixiao LIU ; Linghan MENG ; Guangda ZHENG ; Dongtao LI ; Lu SHANG ; Juanxia REN ; Changlin LI ; Lingyun WANG ; Yanju BAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(5):124-128
Pain, as one of the most common symptoms in cancer patients, seriously affects the survival quality of patients. The three-step pain relief program currently used in clinical practice cannot completely relieve pain in cancer patients and is accompanied by many problems. From the perspective of Jueyin syndrome in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), this paper believed that the core pathogenesis of cancer pain was declined healthy Qi and cold and heat in complexity, and used Wumeiwan as the main formula with modification according to syndrome for clearing the upper, warming the lower part of the body, and harmonizing the cold and heat. It can regulate the pathological environment of deficiency, cold, stasis, toxicity, and heat, and restore the physiological function of Yang transforming Qi while Yin constituting form, so as to prevent, relieve, and even eliminate cancer pain, having achieved good clinical efficacy. It can not only help cancer patients relieve pain, but also control tumor and eliminate tumor, achieving a dual benefit of pain relief and tumor suppression. It gives full play to the characteristics and advantages of syndrome differentiation and treatment in TCM, and expands the scope of ZHANG Zhongjing's treatment for Jueyin syndrome, which provides ideas for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of cancer pain from the perspective of deficiency-excess in complexity and cold and heat in complexity.
8.Expert consensus on neoadjuvant PD-1 inhibitors for locally advanced oral squamous cell carcinoma (2026)
LI Jinsong ; LIAO Guiqing ; LI Longjiang ; ZHANG Chenping ; SHANG Chenping ; ZHANG Jie ; ZHONG Laiping ; LIU Bing ; CHEN Gang ; WEI Jianhua ; JI Tong ; LI Chunjie ; LIN Lisong ; REN Guoxin ; LI Yi ; SHANG Wei ; HAN Bing ; JIANG Canhua ; ZHANG Sheng ; SONG Ming ; LIU Xuekui ; WANG Anxun ; LIU Shuguang ; CHEN Zhanhong ; WANG Youyuan ; LIN Zhaoyu ; LI Haigang ; DUAN Xiaohui ; YE Ling ; ZHENG Jun ; WANG Jun ; LV Xiaozhi ; ZHU Lijun ; CAO Haotian
Journal of Prevention and Treatment for Stomatological Diseases 2026;34(2):105-118
Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a common head and neck malignancy. Approximately 50% to 60% of patients with OSCC are diagnosed at a locally advanced stage (clinical staging III-IVa). Even with comprehensive and sequential treatment primarily based on surgery, the 5-year overall survival rate remains below 50%, and patients often suffer from postoperative functional impairments such as difficulties with speaking and swallowing. Programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) inhibitors are increasingly used in the neoadjuvant treatment of locally advanced OSCC and have shown encouraging efficacy. However, clinical practice still faces key challenges, including the definition of indications, optimization of combination regimens, and standards for efficacy evaluation. Based on the latest research advances worldwide and the clinical experience of the expert group, this expert consensus systematically evaluates the application of PD-1 inhibitors in the neoadjuvant treatment of locally advanced OSCC, covering combination strategies, treatment cycles and surgical timing, efficacy assessment, use of biomarkers, management of special populations and immune related adverse events, principles for immunotherapy rechallenge, and function preservation strategies. After multiple rounds of panel discussion and through anonymous voting using the Delphi method, the following consensus statements have been formulated: 1) Neoadjuvant therapy with PD-1 inhibitors can be used preoperatively in patients with locally advanced OSCC. The preferred regimen is a PD-1 inhibitor combined with platinum based chemotherapy, administered for 2-3 cycles. 2) During the efficacy evaluation of neoadjuvant therapy, radiographic assessment should follow the dual criteria of Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.1 and immune RECIST (iRECIST). After surgery, systematic pathological evaluation of both the primary lesion and regional lymph nodes is required. For combination chemotherapy regimens, PD-L1 expression and combined positive score need not be used as mandatory inclusion or exclusion criteria. 3) For special populations such as the elderly (≥ 70 years), individuals with stable HIV viral load, and carriers of chronic HBV/HCV, PD-1 inhibitors may be used cautiously under the guidance of a multidisciplinary team (MDT), with close monitoring for adverse events. 4) For patients with a poor response to neoadjuvant therapy, continuation of the original treatment regimen is not recommended; the subsequent treatment plan should be adjusted promptly after MDT assessment. Organ transplant recipients and patients with active autoimmune diseases are not recommended to receive neoadjuvant PD-1 inhibitor therapy due to the high risk of immune related activation. Rechallenge is generally not advised for patients who have experienced high risk immune related adverse events such as immune mediated myocarditis, neurotoxicity, or pneumonitis. 5) For patients with a good pathological response, individualized de escalation surgery and function preservation strategies can be explored. This consensus aims to promote the standardized, safe, and precise application of neoadjuvant PD-1 inhibitor strategies in the management of locally advanced OSCC patients.
9.Meta-analysis and Grade Evidence Evaluation of Qi-reinforcing and Blood-activating/ Stasis-expelling Chinese Patent Medicines in Treatment of Coronary Microvascular Disease
Jiaping CHEN ; Juju SHANG ; Hongxu LIU ; Xiang LI ; Xiaolei LAI ; Huiwen ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(5):157-166
ObjectiveTo systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of Qi-reinforcing and blood-activating/stasis-expelling Chinese patent medicines in the treatment of coronary microvascular disease (CMD). MethodsPubMed, Cochrane Library, CNKI, Wanfang Data, and VIP were searched for the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the treatment of CMD with Chinese patent medicines for reinforcing Qi and activating blood/expelling stasis with the time interval from inception to December 31, 2023. The primary outcome indicators included the index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR), coronary flow reserve (CFR), and corrected TIMI flow frame count (cTFC). The secondary outcome indicators included symptomatic efficacy, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), nitric oxide (NO), and adverse events. Cochrane risk-of-bias assessment tool 2.0 (RoB 2.0) and Stata 17.0 were used for literature quality evaluation and meta-analysis of the included RCTs. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) was used to evaluate the quality of evidence. ResultsA total of 36 RCTs were included in this study, involving 3 029 patients. Compared with conventional Western medicine alone, the combined use of Chinese patent medicines for reinforcing Qi and activating blood/expelling stasis and Western medicine reduced the IMR [mean difference (MD)=-5.93, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) [-8.73,-3.14], n=382, P<0.01], cTFC (MD=-9.35, 95%CI [-13.94,-4.76], n=618, P<0.01), and hs-CRP [standard mean difference (SMD)=-1.50, 95%CI [-1.90,-1.11], n=1 483, P<0.01], improved the CFR (SMD=1.14, 95%CI [0.08,2.19], n=304, P=0.03), symptomatic efficacy [relative risk (RR)=1.36, 95%CI [1.21,1.53], n=756, P<0.01], LVEF (MD=4.39, 95%CI [2.31,6.47], n=533, P<0.01), and NO (SMD=3.16, 95%CI [2.07,4.25], n=946, P<0.01) of CMD patients. In terms of safety, the combined therapy reduced the occurrence of adverse events in CMD patients (RR=0.49, 95%CI [0.29,0.82], n=591, P=0.01). GRADE showed moderate quality evidence for adverse events, low quality evidence for cTFC, symptomatic efficacy, LVEF, and NO, and very low quality evidence for IMR, CFR, and hs-CRP. ConclusionBased on microcirculatory function indicators, the combined use of Qi-reinforcing and blood-activating/stasis-expelling Chinese patent medicines and Western medicine may further improve the coronary microvascular function in CMD patients with good safety. The above conclusions remain to be verified with high-quality clinical trials.
10.Translational Research of Electromagnetic Fields on Diseases Related With Bone Remodeling: Review and Prospects
Peng SHANG ; Jun-Yu LIU ; Sheng-Hang WANG ; Jian-Cheng YANG ; Zhe-Yuan ZHANG ; An-Lin LI ; Hao ZHANG ; Yu-Hong ZENG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(2):439-455
Electromagnetic fields can regulate the fundamental biological processes involved in bone remodeling. As a non-invasive physical therapy, electromagnetic fields with specific parameters have demonstrated therapeutic effects on bone remodeling diseases, such as fractures and osteoporosis. Electromagnetic fields can be generated by the movement of charged particles or induced by varying currents. Based on whether the strength and direction of the electric field change over time, electromagnetic fields can be classified into static and time-varying fields. The treatment of bone remodeling diseases with static magnetic fields primarily focuses on fractures, often using magnetic splints to immobilize the fracture site while studying the effects of static magnetic fields on bone healing. However, there has been relatively little research on the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis using static magnetic fields. Pulsed electromagnetic fields, a type of time-varying field, have been widely used in clinical studies for treating fractures, osteoporosis, and non-union. However, current clinical applications are limited to low-frequency, and research on the relationship between frequency and biological effects remains insufficient. We believe that different types of electromagnetic fields acting on bone can induce various “secondary physical quantities”, such as magnetism, force, electricity, acoustics, and thermal energy, which can stimulate bone cells either individually or simultaneously. Bone cells possess specific electromagnetic properties, and in a static magnetic field, the presence of a magnetic field gradient can exert a certain magnetism on the bone tissue, leading to observable effects. In a time-varying magnetic field, the charged particles within the bone experience varying Lorentz forces, causing vibrations and generating acoustic effects. Additionally, as the frequency of the time-varying field increases, induced currents or potentials can be generated within the bone, leading to electrical effects. When the frequency and power exceed a certain threshold, electromagnetic energy can be converted into thermal energy, producing thermal effects. In summary, external electromagnetic fields with different characteristics can generate multiple physical quantities within biological tissues, such as magnetic, electric, mechanical, acoustic, and thermal effects. These physical quantities may also interact and couple with each other, stimulating the biological tissues in a combined or composite manner, thereby producing biological effects. This understanding is key to elucidating the electromagnetic mechanisms of how electromagnetic fields influence biological tissues. In the study of electromagnetic fields for bone remodeling diseases, attention should be paid to the biological effects of bone remodeling under different electromagnetic wave characteristics. This includes exploring innovative electromagnetic source technologies applicable to bone remodeling, identifying safe and effective electromagnetic field parameters, and combining basic research with technological invention to develop scientifically grounded, advanced key technologies for innovative electromagnetic treatment devices targeting bone remodeling diseases. In conclusion, electromagnetic fields and multiple physical factors have the potential to prevent and treat bone remodeling diseases, and have significant application prospects.


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