Objective: This study aimed to construct an animal model of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) that integrates disease and syndrome based on the "deficiency-blood stasis-toxin" pathogenesis and to evaluate it comprehensively. Methods: The HFpEF mouse model was constructed using a combination of Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) and a high-fat diet. According to the random number table method, SPF-grade male C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to the control, L-NAME, high-fat diet, and model groups, 10 in each group. Comprehensive observations and data collection on macroscopic signs (e.g., fur condition, mental state, stool and urine, oral and nasal condition, paw and body condition, etc.) and cardiac function were performed after 10 and 16 weeks of model induction. Additionally, the syndrome evolution was elucidated based on diagnostic criteria for clinical syndromes of heart failure. Furthermore, pathological and molecular biological examinations of myocardial tissue were performed to assess the stability and reliability of the model. Results: Mice in the model group showed typical characteristics of syndrome of qi deficiency and blood stasis, as well as syndrome of internal heat accumulation, including lethargy, slow response, dull paw color and oral/nasal color, exercise intolerance, abnormal platelet activation, dry feces, and dark yellow urine. The time window for these syndromes was between 10 and 16 weeks post-modeling. Cardiac function assessments revealed severe diastolic dysfunction, concentric myocardial hypertrophy, and myocardial fibrosis in the model group. Pathological examinations showed a significantly increased collagen deposition in the myocardial interstitium, enlarged cross-sectional area of cardiomyocytes, and sparse coronary microvasculature in the model group. Molecular biological analyses indicated marked activation of the inducible nitric oxide synthase/nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells/NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 inflammatory pathway and significantly elevated inflammation levels in the myocardial tissue of the model group. Although mice in the L-NAME and high-fat diet groups also showed certain manifestations of qi deficiency syndrome, the substantial cardiac damage was relatively limited compared to the control group. Conclusion This study has constructed an animal model of HFpEF that integrates disease and syndrome based on the "deficiency-blood stasis-toxin" pathogenesis. The macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of this model are consistent with the manifestations of syndrome of qi deficiency and blood stasis, toxin syndrome, and syndrome of internal heat accumulation. Moreover, it can stably simulate the HFpEF state and reflect phenotypic changes in human disease. This model provides a suitable experimental platform to explore the pathogenesis of HFpEF, evaluate the effectiveness of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment regimens, and promote in-depth research on TCM syndromes of heart failure.

Objective: To investigate the role and mechanism of the heat-clearing and detoxifying drug Laggerae Herba in regulating the nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor-2(Nrf2)/solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11)/glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) signaling pathway to inhibit ferroptosis and improve chronic heart failure induced by transverse aortic arch constriction in mice. Methods: Twenty-four male ICR mice were divided into the sham (n=6) and transverse aortic arch constriction groups (n=18) according to the random number table method. The transverse aortic arch constriction group underwent transverse aortic constriction surgery to establish models. After modeling, the transverse aortic arch constriction group was further divided into the model, captopril, and Laggerae Herba groups according to the random number table method, with six mice per group. The captopril (15 mg/kg) and Laggerae Herba groups (1.95 g/kg) received the corresponding drugs by gavage, whereas the sham operation and model groups were administered the same volume of ultrapure water by gavage once a day for four consecutive weeks. After treatment, the cardiac function indexes of mice in each group were detected using ultrasound. The heart mass and tibia length were measured to calculate the ratio of heart weight to tibia length. Hematoxylin and eosin staining were used to observe the pathological changes in myocardial tissue. Masson staining was used to observe the degree of myocardial fibrosis. Wheat germ agglutinin staining was used to observe the degree of myocardial cell hypertrophy. Prussian blue staining was used to observe the iron deposition in myocardial tissue. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and glutathione (GSH) contents in mice serum. Colorimetry was used to detect the malondialdehyde (MDA) content in mice serum. Western blotting was used to detect the Nrf2, GPX4, SLC7A11, and ferritin heavy chain 1 (FTH1) protein expressions in mice cardiac tissue. Results: Compared with the sham group, in the model group, the ejection fraction (EF) and fractional shortening (FS) of mice decreased, the left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV) and left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESD) increased, the left ventricular anterior wall end-systolic thickness (LVAWs) and left ventricular posterior wall end-systolic thickness (LVPWs) decreased, the ratio of heart weight to tibia length increased, the myocardial tissue morphology changed, myocardial fibrosis increased, the cross-sectional area of myocardial cells increased, iron deposition appeared in myocardial tissue, the serum NT-proBNP and MDA levels increased, the GSH level decreased, and Nrf2, GPX4, SLC7A11, and FTH1 protein expressions in cardiac tissue decreased (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, in the captopril and Laggerae Herba groups, the EF, FS, and LVAWs increased, the LVESV and LVESD decreased, the ratio of heart weight to tibia length decreased, the myocardial cells were arranged neatly, the degree of myocardial fibrosis decreased, the cross-sectional area of myocardial cells decreased, the serum NT-proBNP level decreased, and the GSH level increased. Compared with the model group, the LVPWs increased, the iron deposition in myocardial tissue decreased, the serum MDA level decreased, and Nrf2, GPX4, SLC7A11, and FTH1 protein expressions in cardiac tissue increased (P<0.05) in the Laggerae Herba group. Conclusion Laggerae Herba improves the cardiac function of mice with chronic heart failure caused by transverse aortic arch constriction, reduces the pathological remodeling of the heart, and reduces fibrosis. Its mechanism may be related to Nrf2/SLC7A11/GPX4 pathway-mediated ferroptosis.

Objective:To investigate the effect of chlorogenic acid on atherosclerosis (AS) in a mouse model.Methods:Twenty-four specific pathogen-free male ApoE-/- mice were adaptively fed for 1 week and then randomly divided into three groups ( n=8 per group): The model group, the atorvastatin group, and the chlorogenic acid group. All three groups were fed with a high-fat diet. Eight male C57BL/6N wild-type mice served as the control group and were fed with a standard diet. After 8 weeks, the atorvastatin group received intragastric administration of a solution containing 0.9% sodium chloride +2.6 mg/kg atorvastatin at 10 mL/kg, while the chlorogenic acid group received 0.9% sodium chloride +200 mg/kg chlorogenic acid at 10 mL/kg. The control and model groups were given an equal volume of 0.9% sodium chloride once a day. After 9 weeks of continuous treatment, the mice were anesthetized, and the aortas were collected for Oil Red O staining. Image J was used to measure plaque area and total vascular area, and the percentage was calculated. Liver tissues were subjected to hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining to observe pathological changes. Blood samples from the abdominal aorta were collected to measure lipid profiles [total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)], liver function markers [aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP)], and inflammatory cytokines [interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)]. Non-HDL-C levels were calculated as TC minus HDL-C. Results:Aortic lipid plaque area: The model group exhibited a significantly higher plaque area than the control group [(44.91±1.91)% vs. (0.21±0.11)%]. Both the atorvastatin group [(15.00±1.29)%] and the chlorogenic acid group [(26.13±2.16)%] showed reduced plaque areas compared to the model group ( P<0.05). Liver pathology: The control group displayed intact hepatocyte structure with regular morphology, whereas the model group exhibited significant steatosis. Both the atorvastatin and chlorogenic acid groups showed alleviated liver damage compared to the model group. Blood lipid levels: The model group had higher TC, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C, and non-HDL-C levels than the control group [(30.3±4.0) mmol/L vs. (2.8±0.3) mmol/L, (1.26±0.32) mmol/L vs. (0.52±0.12) mmol/L, (3.02±0.39) mmol/L vs. (2.00±0.17) mmol/L, (14.87±5.23) mmol/L vs. (0.39±0.09) mmol/L, (27.3±4.0) mmol/L vs. (0.8±0.3) mmol/L, respectively]. Both the atorvastatin group [(24.0±3.1), (0.64±0.08), (2.04±0.41), (8.55±1.15), (22.0±3.2) mmol/L] and the chlorogenic acid group [(23.3±2.5), (0.88±0.14), (2.28±0.18), (8.90±0.29), (21.0±2.5) mmol/L] showed lower levels than the model group ( P<0.05). The model group had higher ALT, AST, and ALP levels than the control group [(274±43) U/L vs. (99±14) U/L, (130±66) U/L vs. (38±4) U/L, (86±15) U/L vs. (60±5) U/L, respectively]. Both the atorvastatin group [(139±12), (58±16), (69±5) U/L] and the chlorogenic acid group [(138±11), (55±16), (54±5) U/L] exhibited lower levels than the model group ( P<0.05). Inflammatory cytokines: The model group had higher IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α levels than the control group [(238±15) ng/L vs. (202±7) ng/L, (211±6) ng/L vs. (174±6) ng/L, (1 325±75) ng/L vs. (1 036±75) ng/L, respectively]. Both the atorvastatin group [(215±9), (191±4), (1 163±78) ng/L] and the chlorogenic acid group [(220±13), (195±7), (1 197±53) ng/L] showed reduced levels compared to the model group (all P<0.05). Conclusion:Chlorogenic acid may inhibit aortic lipid plaque deposition and ameliorate AS in mice by improving lipid metabolism and suppressing inflammatory responses.

Cancer cachexia is a complex syndrome caused by multiple factors,which seriously affects the quality of life and prognosis of patients.Its overall pathogenesis is related to the deficiency of spleen qi,insufficiency of kidney essence,internal generation of turbid toxins,and the obstruction of the production of qi,blood and essential qi,which cannot nourish the muscles and bones.Under the guidance of the dynamic diagnosis and treatment system of"spleen and kidney exhaustion as the root cause and internal accumulation of turbid toxins as the manifestation",the overall regulation is carried out from four dimensions:opening and closing the spleen and stomach,nourishing the kidney and promoting transportation,transforming turbid toxins and detoxification,and tonifying qi and nourishing yin.It has shown unique value in the intervention of cancer cachexia and can provide ideas and references for the clinical practice of TCM in treating cancer cachexia.

With the rapid development of competitive sports, the incidence of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is on the rise. Such injuries may shorten athletes′ career and lead to other long-term adverse consequences. Although athletes generally recover well after ACL reconstruction, many still struggle to return to their pre-injury performance levels. Advances in the understanding of ACL anatomy and injury mechanisms, along with the evolution of surgical techniques and rehabilitation methods, have provided more individualized and tailored options for athletes following ACL injuries. However, there is currently no consensus in China regarding surgical and rehabilitation strategies for competitive athletes aiming to return to sports after ACL injuries. To this end, the Sports Medicine Committee of the Chinese Research Hospital Association and the Editorial Board of the Chinese Journal of Trauma jointly formulated the Expert consensus on surgical treatment and rehabilitation for competitive sports athletes returning to sports after anterior cruciate ligament injury ( version 2025), and presented 14 recommendations covering surgical indications, preoperative rehabilitation, surgical timing, surgical strategies and postoperative rehabilitation strategies, aiming to improve the surgical treatment and rehabilitation system for ACL injuries in competitive athletes and facilitate their return to high-level sports performance after injury.

Pseudorabies (PR) is an infectious disease caused by the pseudorabies virus (PRV), affecting various domesticated and wild animals. Since pigs are the only natural hosts of PRV, PR poses a serious threat to the pig farming industry. Currently, PR is primarily prevented through vaccination with inactivated vaccines or genetically modified attenuated live vaccines. Developing safe and effective genetically engineered vaccines would facilitate the eradication and control of PR. In this study, the PRV vaccine strain Bartha-K61 was used as the reference strain. The gB protein was expressed via the baculovirus-insect cell expression system. Non-denaturing gel electrophoresis confirmed that the gB protein could form a trimeric structure. The purified gB protein was used to immunize mice, and the immune effect was evaluated by a challenge test. The results showed that the gB antigen induced a strong immune response in mice, with the serum-neutralizing antibody titer above 1:70. The lymphocyte stimulation index reached more than 1.29, and the level of (interferon gamma, IFN-γ) release was higher than 100 pg/mL. After immunization, mice were challenged with the virus at a dose of 10⁴ TCID₅₀/mL, 200 μL per mouse, and the clinical protection rate was 100%. Immunohistochemistry, histopathological section, and tissue viral load results showed that the pathological damage and viral load in the gB-immunized group were significantly lower than those in the PBS group. In summary, the gB protein obtained in this study induced strong humoral and cellular immune responses in mice, laying a foundation for developing a recombinant gB protein subunit vaccine.
Animals ; Mice ; Baculoviridae/metabolism* ; Viral Envelope Proteins/biosynthesis* ; Herpesvirus 1, Suid/genetics* ; Pseudorabies/immunology* ; Swine ; Pseudorabies Vaccines/genetics* ; Antibodies, Viral/blood* ; Insecta/cytology* ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Female ; Viral Vaccines/immunology*

Objective To establish and evaluate a mouse model of acute myocardial infarction(AMI)with coronary heart disease(CHD)that integrates syndrome differentiation with disease diagnosis,based on the"deficiency-stagnation-toxicity"pathogenesis.Methods Forty-eight ICR mice were randomly divided into four groups using a random number table:sham-operated,normal diet,high-choline,and trimethylamine N-oxide(TMAO).From weeks 1 to 8,each group received corresponding dietary and water interventions.From the 9th week,the normal diet,high-choline,and TMAO groups underwent coronary artery ligation(left anterior descending artery,LAD).In contrast,the sham-operated group only had suture placement without ligation,maintaining the same dietary and water interventions.Data on general signs,body weight,food and water intake,urine and feces,auricle and paw conditions,and behavioral patterns were collected and compared macroscopically and microscopically to determine the syndrome type of the high-choline-induced AMI mouse model and observe changes in the"deficiency-stagnation-toxicity"syndrome indicators.After 12 weeks,echocardiography,hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining,and Masson′s trichrome staining were used to assess cardiac function,myocardial tissue cellular morphology changes,and myocardial fibrosis levels,respectively.The stability and reliability of the model were evaluated by observing the fluorescence intensity of inflammatory cytokines in the myocardial tissues of each group using immunofluorescence.Results Mice in all groups post-AMI surgery exhibited significant weight loss,dull fur,lethargy,and reduced activity.Mice in the high-choline and TMAO groups showed more sluggish responses to stimuli.The high-choline and TMAO groups displayed increased food intake but slow weight gain from weeks 1 to 4,developing into a trend of"increased food and water intake with weight loss"from 5 to 8 weeks,accompanied by yellowish urine and dry stools(P<0.01).Postoperatively(9-12 weeks),body weight significantly decreased,with the most prominent weight loss observed in the high-choline group.The high-choline and TMAO groups exhibited abnormal RGB values in auricles and paws(P<0.01),and behavioral tests showed a significant decline in open-field activity(P<0.01).Cardiac function and pathological examinations revealed that,compared with the sham-operated and normal diet groups,mice in the high-choline and TMAO groups had increased left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes(P<0.01),decreased left ventricular ejection fraction and fractional shortening(P<0.01),and elevated heart indices(P<0.05).HE staining of myocardial tissues indicated more pyknotic nuclei and inflammatory cell infiltration in the high-choline and TMAO groups.Masson′s trichrome staining showed extensive blue-stained collagen fiber distribution in the infarct border zones of the high-choline and TMAO groups,with aggravated fibrosis(P<0.05).Immunofluorescence revealed elevated interleukin-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels in the high-choline and TMAO groups compared with the sham-operated and normal diet groups(P<0.01).Conclusion A high-choline diet combined with LAD ligation successfully established an animal model of AMI with CHD that integrates syndrome differentiation with disease diagnosis,based on the"deficiency-stagnation-toxicity"pathogenesis.This model not only embodies the traditional Chinese medicine theory′s understanding of the pathogenic features of"deficiency-stagnation-toxicity",but also serves as a reference for assessing the interventional effects of Chinese herbal compound prescriptions and facilitating research on syndrome patterns in traditional Chinese medicine.

Objective To construct an animal model of dilated cardiomyopathy(DCM)with heart failure toxin syndrome that conforms to the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome and identify potential biomarkers or intervention targets for DCM with heart failure toxin syndrome.Methods Fifteen male SD rats were divided into a blank control,doxorubicin,or DCM with heart failure toxin syndrome group using a random number table method,with five rats per group.The doxorubicin group received intraperitoneal injection of doxorubicin at a dose of 1.25 mg/kg,administered on the first and fourth days of each week,along with a standard diet.The DCM with heart failure toxin syndrome group,in addition to the doxorubicin treatment,was given 42％white liquor(10 mL/kg)via gavage every other day,along with a 45％high-fat feed and 10％fructose water.The blank control group received intraperitoneal injection of an equivalent volume of phosphate-buffered saline at the same time points as the doxorubicin group,along with a standard diet.The model was established for 10 weeks.At the fourth and tenth weeks of modeling,echocardiography was performed to measure left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),fractional shortening(FS),systolic left ventricular posterior wall thickness(LVPWs),diastolic left ventricular posterior wall thickness,systolic left ventricular internal diameter(LVIDs),and diastolic left ventricular internal diameter(LVIDd);macroscopic changes in fur color of the rats were assessed using the red-green-blue colorimetric method.After modeling,the open field test was conducted to evaluate the exercise tolerance of the rats,and the grip strength test was performed to assess changes in forelimb grip strength.Hematoxylin-eosin,Masson,and wheat germ agglutinin staining were used to evaluate pathological changes in cardiac tissue.Bulk RNA sequencing analysis was performed to identify differentially expressed genes(DEGs)in the hearts of rats between the blank control and the DCM with heart failure toxin syndrome groups.Using DCM,the Blue value of rat fur color,and forelimb grip strength as phenotypic traits,weighted gene co-expression network analysis(WGCNA)was performed to screen for characteristic module gene sets(MEs)associated with DCM with heart failure toxin syndrome.Overlapping analysis was performed on DEGs,immune-related gene sets,and MEs,and the intersecting genes were identified as potential biomarkers or intervention targets for DCM with heart failure toxin syndrome.The sensitivity and specificity of these targets were evaluated using receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis.Results Compared with the blank control group,at the tenth week of modeling,the LVEF,FS,and LVPWs of rats in the doxorubicin group and the DCM with heart failure toxin syndrome group decreased,whereas LVIDs and LVIDd increased,and the movement distance of the open field test and forelimb grip strength were reduced(P＜0.05).At the 10th week of modeling,the Blue value of fur color in the DCM with heart failure toxin syndrome group was significantly lower than that of the blank control and doxorubicin groups(P＜0.05).Compared with the blank control group,rats in the doxorubicin and DCM with heart failure toxin syndrome groups exhibited significant cardiac dilation and increased immune cell infiltration in cardiac tissue,accompanied by collagen deposition and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy.Bulk RNA sequencing identified 2,003 DEGs,including 1,082 downregulated genes and 921 upregulated genes.WGCNA results revealed that the MEturquoise module had the strongest positive correlation with DCM and the strongest negative correlation with the Blue value and forelimb grip strength.The overlapping analysis identified four intersecting genes:bone morphogenetic protein 6(Bmp6),serine-threonine-protein kinase 1(Pak1),proto-oncogene JunD(JunD),and S100 calcium-binding protein A3(S100A3).ROC curve analysis demonstrated that these four genes exhibited high sensitivity and specificity for DCM with heart failure toxin syndrome.Conclusion The rat model constructed by intraperitoneal injection of doxorubicin combined with a high-fat feed,fructose water,and white liquor gavage closely aligns with the characteristics of the DCM with heart failure toxin syndrome.Bmp6,JunD,Pak1,and S100A3 are potential biomarkers or therapeutic targets for DCM heart failure toxin syndrome.

Objective To establish and evaluate a mouse model of acute myocardial infarction(AMI)with coronary heart disease(CHD)that integrates syndrome differentiation with disease diagnosis,based on the"deficiency-stagnation-toxicity"pathogenesis.Methods Forty-eight ICR mice were randomly divided into four groups using a random number table:sham-operated,normal diet,high-choline,and trimethylamine N-oxide(TMAO).From weeks 1 to 8,each group received corresponding dietary and water interventions.From the 9th week,the normal diet,high-choline,and TMAO groups underwent coronary artery ligation(left anterior descending artery,LAD).In contrast,the sham-operated group only had suture placement without ligation,maintaining the same dietary and water interventions.Data on general signs,body weight,food and water intake,urine and feces,auricle and paw conditions,and behavioral patterns were collected and compared macroscopically and microscopically to determine the syndrome type of the high-choline-induced AMI mouse model and observe changes in the"deficiency-stagnation-toxicity"syndrome indicators.After 12 weeks,echocardiography,hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining,and Masson′s trichrome staining were used to assess cardiac function,myocardial tissue cellular morphology changes,and myocardial fibrosis levels,respectively.The stability and reliability of the model were evaluated by observing the fluorescence intensity of inflammatory cytokines in the myocardial tissues of each group using immunofluorescence.Results Mice in all groups post-AMI surgery exhibited significant weight loss,dull fur,lethargy,and reduced activity.Mice in the high-choline and TMAO groups showed more sluggish responses to stimuli.The high-choline and TMAO groups displayed increased food intake but slow weight gain from weeks 1 to 4,developing into a trend of"increased food and water intake with weight loss"from 5 to 8 weeks,accompanied by yellowish urine and dry stools(P<0.01).Postoperatively(9-12 weeks),body weight significantly decreased,with the most prominent weight loss observed in the high-choline group.The high-choline and TMAO groups exhibited abnormal RGB values in auricles and paws(P<0.01),and behavioral tests showed a significant decline in open-field activity(P<0.01).Cardiac function and pathological examinations revealed that,compared with the sham-operated and normal diet groups,mice in the high-choline and TMAO groups had increased left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes(P<0.01),decreased left ventricular ejection fraction and fractional shortening(P<0.01),and elevated heart indices(P<0.05).HE staining of myocardial tissues indicated more pyknotic nuclei and inflammatory cell infiltration in the high-choline and TMAO groups.Masson′s trichrome staining showed extensive blue-stained collagen fiber distribution in the infarct border zones of the high-choline and TMAO groups,with aggravated fibrosis(P<0.05).Immunofluorescence revealed elevated interleukin-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels in the high-choline and TMAO groups compared with the sham-operated and normal diet groups(P<0.01).Conclusion A high-choline diet combined with LAD ligation successfully established an animal model of AMI with CHD that integrates syndrome differentiation with disease diagnosis,based on the"deficiency-stagnation-toxicity"pathogenesis.This model not only embodies the traditional Chinese medicine theory′s understanding of the pathogenic features of"deficiency-stagnation-toxicity",but also serves as a reference for assessing the interventional effects of Chinese herbal compound prescriptions and facilitating research on syndrome patterns in traditional Chinese medicine.

Tumor-related insomnia is one of the common complications of tumor patients,which is secondary to tumor disease and related to tumor disease itself or tumor treatment.Combined with the unique pathogenesis of"heat-toxicity internal stagnation"of tumor-related insomnia,the important treatment methods are to clear away heat,attack toxicity,regulate qi and supplement healthy qi.This article explained the research status,etiology and pathogenesis,treatment principles of the disease,in order to provide new ideas and methods for the differentiation and treatment of tumor-related insomnia in TCM.