ObjectiveTo observe the effectiveness and safety of Xingeng No.Ⅱ Granules （心梗2号颗粒剂） in preventing and treating left ventricular remodeling in patients with qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome following percutaneous coronary intervention （PCI） for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction （STEMI）. MethodsIn this randomized controlled trial， patients with qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome after PCI for STEMI were randomly assigned to treatment group and control group at a 1∶1 ratio， with 66 patients in each group. In the control group， patients only received conventional western medicine after surgery， while the treatment group additionally received the granules （8 g per dose， twice daily）， for a treatment duration of 8 weeks in both groups. The primary outcome was the incidence of left ventricular remodeling within 6 months after surgery. The secondary outcomes were the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events （MACCE） within 6 months， all-cause mortality， stent thrombosis， BARC Ⅲ and V bleeding events， rehospitalization due to acute heart failure， and severe complications of STEMI. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome scores at 1 day and 1， 2， and 6 months after surgery was evaluated. Adverse events during the study were recorded to evaluate safety. ResultsSix cases dropped out from both the treatment group and the control group. The full analysis set （FAS） analysis showed that the incidence of left ventricular remodeling in the treatment group was 16.67% （11/66）， significantly lower than 40.91% （27/66） in the control group （P=0.004）. The per protocol set （PPS） analysis also showed lower incidence of left ventricular remodeling in the treatment group （20.37%， 11/54） than in the control group （49.09%， 27/55） with significant difference （P=0.002）. Within 6 month after surgery， 0 patients in the treatment group and 4 out of 60 patients （6.67%） in the control group were readmitted to hospital for acute heart failure， with significantly higher rate in the control group （P=0.042）. Neither group of patients experienced recurrent myocardial infarction， target vessel revascularization， in-stent thrombosis， or severe complications of STEMI. There was no statistically significant difference between groups in the incidence of stroke， cardiovascular mortality， all-cause mortality， BARC Ⅲ and V bleeding events （P＞0.05）. At 1 day after surgery， there was no statistically significant difference in TCM syndrome score between the groups （P＞0.05）； while 1， 2 and 6 months after surgery， TCM syndrome score in the treatment group was significantly lower than that in the control group （P＜0.05）. Analysis of the safety dataset （SS） showed that the incidence of adverse events in the treatment group was 7.41% （4/60）， while in the control group it was 16.36% （9/57）， showing no statistically significant difference （P = 0.117）. ConclusionIn addition to conventional western medicine， Xingeng No.Ⅱ Granules can reduce the incidence of left ventricular remodeling and the incidence of rehospitalization due to acute heart failure in STEMI patients with qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome after PCI， with good safety profile.

The World Health Organization (WHO) released the “Global report on hypertension” on September 19, 2023. This report systematically summarizes the prevalence, mortality, diagnosis and treatment of hypertension in various countries, and elucidates the current situation of hypertension management, and gives a series of suggestions on how to manage hypertension, providing new thinking and inspiration for countries to optimize hypertension management. Through the summary of relevant studies and reports, this paper further reviews the present situation, early identification and management of hypertension.

Background and aims:Kehuang(KH)capsule is an herbal medical product approved for the treatment of liver diseases,including liver injury,in China.However,the mechanism is still unclear.This study aimed to elucidate the protective effects of KH capsule against carbon tetrachloride(CCl4)-induced acute liver injury(ALI)in a murine model.Methods:Mice were randomly divided into control,model(CCl4),CCl4+KH_Low and CCl4+KH_High group.Liver enzyme levels and histological changes were assessed to evaluate liver injury.Oxidative stress markers and inflammatory cell infiltration in liver tissues were measured.Additionally,network pharmacology was employed to explore the potential mechanisms of KH capsule.Results:KH capsule significantly reduced serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT)and aspartate amino-transferase(AST)levels,as well as the necrotic area in liver tissue.KH capsule also decreased the infil-tration of macrophages and neutrophils,thereby inhibiting the expression of interleukin-6(IL-6),tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α),and interleukin-1 beta(IL-1β).Furthermore,KH capsule decreased liver malondialdehyde(MDA)levels and increased superoxide dismutase(SOD)activity.The number of ter-minal deoxynucleotidyl transferase(TdT)-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling(TUNEL)-positive cells in liver tissue was also reduced.The expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor 2(Nrf2)and heme oxygenase-1(HO-1)proteins was significantly elevated,while the protein expression of cyto-chrome P450 2E1(CYP2E1)was significantly reduced.Mass spectrometry identified genistein,galangin,wogonin,skullcapflavone Ⅱ,and hispidulin as potential active ingredients of KH capsule.Network pharmacology analysis revealed enrichment in the mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)-protein kinase B(AKT)signaling pathways.Western blot analysis confirmed that KH capsule suppressed AKT,extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK),and p38 signaling.Conclusions:These findings suggest that KH capsule could exert protective effects against CCl4-induced ALI,with the inhibition of MAPK and PI3K-AKT signaling pathways playing a crucial role in its mecha-nism of action.

The Chinese Guidelines on Diagnosis and Management of Atrial Fibrillation, jointly formulated by the Chinese Society of Cardiology, Chinese Medical Association and the Heart Rhythm Committee of Chinese Society of Biomedical Engineering, was first released on June 15, 2023. The guidelines elaborate the various aspects of atrial fibrillation management, in which emergency management of atrial fibrillation is also an integral part. This article interpreted the emergency management part in the guidelines in detail by reviewing relevant literature.

COVID-19 ; Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Proteins ; Humans ; Nucleocapsid Proteins ; Phosphoproteins ; SARS-CoV-2

Objective:To evaluate the role of hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels in striatum in paclitaxel-induced neuropathic pain and the relationship with GABA B receptors in rats. Methods:Healthy clean-grade male Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 6-9 weeks, weighing 180-220 g, were used in this study.The neuropathic pain model was established by intraperitoneal injection of paclitaxel 2 mg/kg once every 2 days for 7 consecutive days in anesthetized rats, and then intrathecal catheterization was performed.Fifty rats in which intrathecal catheters were successfully implanted were divided into 5 groups ( n=10 each) using a random number table method: paclitaxel group (P group), paclitaxel plus normal saline group(N group), paclitaxel plus lentivirus empty vector group (BV group), paclitaxel plus HCN4 channel lentivirus group (H group), and paclitaxel plus HCN channel inhibitor ZD7288 group (I group). Ten rats of the same age were selected as the blank control group (C group). At 15 days after intraperitoneal injection of paclitaxel, normal saline 20 μl was intrathecally injected in group N, group BV received intrathecal injection of HCN4 channel lentivirus empty vector 1×10 8 TU/ml, 20 μl, group H received intrathecal injection of HCN4 channel lentivirus 1×10 8 TU/ml, 20 μl, and group I received intrathecal injection of ZD728830 μg, 20 μl.The mechanical paw withdrawal threshold (MWT) was measured at 1 day before paclitaxel injection and 14 and 21 days after injection.The cerebral striatum tissues were obtained at T 2, and the expression of HCN4 channel and GABA B receptors was determined by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. Results:Compared with group C, the MWT was significantly decreased, HCN4 channel expression was up-regulated, and GABA B receptor expression was down-regulated in group P ( P<0.05). Compared with group P, the MWT was significantly increased, HCN4 channel expression was down-regulated, and GABA B receptor expression was up-regulated in group H and group I ( P<0.05), and no significant change was found in the parameters mentioned above in group N and group BV ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Up-regulation of expression of HCN4 channels in striatum can induce down-regulation of GABA B receptor expression, which is involved in the pathophysiological mechanism of paclitaxel-induced neuropathic pain in rats.

Objective    To analyze the effect of loop-in-loop technique and annuloplasty ring for the treatment of mitral valve prolapse (MVP) under total thoracoscopy. Methods    Between May 2012 and May 2017, 21 patients with MVP underwent mitral valve repair in our hospital. There were 12 males and 9 females with a mean age of 50.90±9.66 years and the mean weight of 64.81±11.56 kg. Loop-in-loop artificial chordae tendonae reconstruction and mitral annuloplasty were performed through the right atrial-atrial septal incision under total thoracoscopy. The water test and transesophageal echocardiography were performed during the operation to evaluate the effect of mitral annuloplasty. Data of echocardiography and chest radiography were collected postoperatively one week, before discharge and after discharge. Results    All the operations were successful without re-valvupoplasty or valve replacement, conversion to median thoracotomy, malignant arrhythmia, perioperative death or wound infection. Among them, 10 patients underwent tricuspid valvuloplasty, 1 patient underwent tricuspid valvuloplasty plus radiofrequency ablation simultaneously. The mean cardiopulmonary bypass time was 255.57±37.24 minutes, aortic occlusion time was 162.24±19.61 minutes, the number of loop was 2–5 (3.29±0.78), the size of ring was 28–34 (31.11±1.88) mm, ventilator assistance time was 19.43±14.68 hours, ICU time was 58.45±24.60 hours and postoperative hospital stay was 12.28±3.61 days. Transthoracic echocardiography was re-examined postoperatively. Mild-mitral regurgitation was found in 3 patients. Warfarin anticoagulant therapy was given orally for 6 months postoperatively. The patients were followed up regularly for 2–51 months at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively. Left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) was 45.06±2.96 mm, left ventricular end-diastolic volume 108.11±17.09 mL, left atrial diameter (LAD) 35.56±6.93 mm and cardiothoracic ratio 0.53±0.13 at discharge which were significantly smaller than those at admission (P<0.05). Pulmonary artery pressure was 19.22±6.38 mm Hg which was significantly lower than that at admission (P<0.05), but left ventricular ejection fraction (62.33%±4.00%) had no significant change (P>0.05). The LAD and LVEDD were significantly smaller than those before operation, and the cardiac function improved to some extent during the follow-up. No new mitral valve prolapse, increased regurgitation, infective endocarditis, thromboembolism or anticoagulation-related complications were found during the follow-up. Conclusion    Loop-in-loop artificial chordae tendon implantation combined with mitral annuloplasty is a safe and effective method for MVP under total thoracoscopy with minimal trauma, satisfactory cosmetic effect, and good early- and medium-term results. It is worth of popularizing. However, the operation time needs to be further shortened, and its long-term clinical effect needs further follow-up and other researches to confirm.

Photosensitive skin diseases belong to physical skin diseases, which are caused by sunlight. Its clinical features are exposed parts of skin erythema, blisters or pleomorphic lesions, skin burning and itching consciously, and vary in different seasons. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the pathogenesis of the disease lies in accountability phototoxic invasion, in vivo accumulation of heat, and natural tolerance to poor light. Traditional Chinese medicine therapy is often used in typing, syndrome differentiation, combination of traditional Chinese and Western medicine, Chinese medicine for external use and other means, and has achieved remarkable curative effects. However, there are still many problems about photosensitive skin diseases in the aspect of clinical and basic researches, and should be solved and improved.

Objective Lymphedema is a common complication interrupting a large percentage of breast cancer survivors .How to release the breast cancer survivors from the pain of lymphedema remains a question to breast surgeons .The rapid development of the super-microsurgical measurement allows lymphaticovenular anasto-mosis to become a better way to treat breast cancer related lymphedema .Methods We followed a breast cancer related lymphedema case amd offered super-microsurgical lymphaticovenular anastomosis to her .Results The surgery lasted 4.5 h, and contained 11 anastomosis of lymph ducts .Improvement of edema could be seen during the surgery and the measurement of the upper limb became smaller just one day after surgery .Conclusion Su-per-microsurgical lymphaticovenular anastomosis is a safe improvement for extremity lymphedema after mastectomy and it can provide a better prognosis and appearance .

BACKGROUND:A series of studies indicate that autophagy is closely linked with differentiation. Bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) is the classical pathway for C2C12 and MC3T3-E1 osteoblast differentiation, and the ideal model to study osteogenic differentiation process.
OBJECTIVE:To observe the relationship between autophagy and BMP-2-induced celllines C2C12, MC3T3-E1 osteoblast differentiation.
METHODS:Real-Time PCR was applied to detect osteogenic differentiation and autophagy related index after C2C12 and MC3T3-E1 were induced with BMP-2 (100μg/L) for 72 hours. The osteogenic index alkaline phosphatase in BMP-2-induced MC3T3-E1 and C2C12 cultured with different concentrations of 3-methyladenine (0, 1, 5, 10 mmol/L) was determined with alkaline phosphatase staining. Western blot analysis was applied to detect LC3-I/II expression levels in C2C12 and MC3T3-E1 induced with BMP-2 for different time points (0, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96 hours).
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The autophagy-related mRNA and protein expression showed an increasing tendency and autophagy-related protein LC3 levels was increased, which was associated with the time, during the BMP-2-induced celllines C2C12, MC3T3-E1 osteoblast differentiation. Meanwhile, alkaline phosphatase expression levels were inhibited by autophagy in the process of osteogenic differentiation. Therefore, there is a close relationship between autophagy and the BMP-2-induced celllines C2C12, MC3T3-E1 osteoblast differentiation.