1.Mechanism of Paeoniflorin Regulating TLR4/NF-κB-IRS1 Inflammation-insulin Signaling Axis to Improve Metabolic Dysfunction Associated Fatty Liver Disease Combined with Insulin Resistance
Luyu LI ; Yiming FAN ; Wenlong YU ; Yiteng ZHANG ; Yaorui HU ; Huanxin DING ; Chuxuan LIU ; Xin JIN ; Hongyu ZHANG ; Qian XU ; Guangyong ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(21):146-156
ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic effect of paeoniflorin on metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MASLD) combined with insulin resistance (IR), and to elucidate its regulatory mechanisms on the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear transcription factor (NF)-κB-insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) inflammation-insulin signaling axis. MethodsMASLD mouse model was established using a 60% high-fat diet. Mice were randomly assigned to a normal control group, a MASLD model group, and paeoniflorin groups (low dose: 25 mg·kg-1·d-1, medium dose: 50 mg·kg-1·d-1, high dose: 100 mg·kg-1·d-1), receiving intragastric administration for consecutive 12 weeks. Concurrently, a palmitic acid/oleic acid (PA/OA)-induced lipid deposition model was established in HepG2 cells. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was performed to determine the optimal concentrations of PA/OA and paeoniflorin for intervention. Mice body weight, liver index, and serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), triglycerides (TG), and total cholesterol (TC) were measured. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) and fasting insulin (FINS) levels were measured, and the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated, while an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed to evaluate glucose metabolism. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was used to observe pathological changes and inflammatory cell infiltration in liver tissue, and oil red O staining was used to evaluate lipid droplet deposition in liver tissue and HepG2 cells. Potential targets were screened using network pharmacology and molecular docking. Western blot analysis was performed to detect the expression of HSP90AA1, TLR4, p-NF-κB p65, p-IRS1, and p-Akt proteins in liver tissue and HepG2 cells. ResultsCompared with the normal control group, mice in the MASLD model group exhibited significantly increased body weight, liver index, and serum levels of ALT, AST, TG, and TC, as well as markedly elevated FBG, FINS, and HOMA-IR, and impaired glucose tolerance (P<0.01). HE staining revealed marked hepatic steatosis and inflammatory cell infiltration, while oil red O staining showed a significant increase in lipid droplet deposition. Compared with the MASLD model group, after intervention with various doses of paeoniflorin, the increase in body weight and liver index was reduced, serum ALT, AST, TG, and TC levels decreased, and FBG, FINS, and HOMA-IR were significantly lowered, with glucose tolerance markedly improved (P<0.05, P<0.01), showing a certain dose-dependent trend. HE and oil red O staining results showed a marked reduction in hepatic steatosis and lipid deposition. In vitro experiments demonstrated that, compared with the control group, PA/OA treatment significantly induced increased lipid deposition in HepG2 cells. Compared with the model group, paeoniflorin intervention significantly reduced intracellular lipid droplets, and lipid deposition showed a dose-dependent decreasing trend. Mechanism studies indicated that, compared with the normal control group, the MASLD model group exhibited significantly elevated expression of TLR4, HSP90AA1, and p-NF-κB p65, while p-IRS1 (Ser307) expression was elevated and p-Akt (Ser473) expression was reduced (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the expression of the aforementioned proteins was significantly reversed in all treatment groups following intervention (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionPaeoniflorin significantly alleviates lipid deposition and insulin resistance in MASLD mice. Its mechanism of action may involve targeting HSP90AA1, TLR4, and NF-κB1 to regulate the TLR4/NF-κB-IRS1 inflammation-insulin signaling axis. This regulation suppresses inflammatory responses and restores insulin signaling, thereby ameliorating abnormalities in glucose and lipid metabolism.
2.Mechanism of Paeoniflorin Regulating TLR4/NF-κB-IRS1 Inflammation-insulin Signaling Axis to Improve Metabolic Dysfunction Associated Fatty Liver Disease Combined with Insulin Resistance
Luyu LI ; Yiming FAN ; Wenlong YU ; Yiteng ZHANG ; Yaorui HU ; Huanxin DING ; Chuxuan LIU ; Xin JIN ; Hongyu ZHANG ; Qian XU ; Guangyong ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(21):146-156
ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic effect of paeoniflorin on metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MASLD) combined with insulin resistance (IR), and to elucidate its regulatory mechanisms on the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear transcription factor (NF)-κB-insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) inflammation-insulin signaling axis. MethodsMASLD mouse model was established using a 60% high-fat diet. Mice were randomly assigned to a normal control group, a MASLD model group, and paeoniflorin groups (low dose: 25 mg·kg-1·d-1, medium dose: 50 mg·kg-1·d-1, high dose: 100 mg·kg-1·d-1), receiving intragastric administration for consecutive 12 weeks. Concurrently, a palmitic acid/oleic acid (PA/OA)-induced lipid deposition model was established in HepG2 cells. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was performed to determine the optimal concentrations of PA/OA and paeoniflorin for intervention. Mice body weight, liver index, and serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), triglycerides (TG), and total cholesterol (TC) were measured. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) and fasting insulin (FINS) levels were measured, and the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated, while an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed to evaluate glucose metabolism. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was used to observe pathological changes and inflammatory cell infiltration in liver tissue, and oil red O staining was used to evaluate lipid droplet deposition in liver tissue and HepG2 cells. Potential targets were screened using network pharmacology and molecular docking. Western blot analysis was performed to detect the expression of HSP90AA1, TLR4, p-NF-κB p65, p-IRS1, and p-Akt proteins in liver tissue and HepG2 cells. ResultsCompared with the normal control group, mice in the MASLD model group exhibited significantly increased body weight, liver index, and serum levels of ALT, AST, TG, and TC, as well as markedly elevated FBG, FINS, and HOMA-IR, and impaired glucose tolerance (P<0.01). HE staining revealed marked hepatic steatosis and inflammatory cell infiltration, while oil red O staining showed a significant increase in lipid droplet deposition. Compared with the MASLD model group, after intervention with various doses of paeoniflorin, the increase in body weight and liver index was reduced, serum ALT, AST, TG, and TC levels decreased, and FBG, FINS, and HOMA-IR were significantly lowered, with glucose tolerance markedly improved (P<0.05, P<0.01), showing a certain dose-dependent trend. HE and oil red O staining results showed a marked reduction in hepatic steatosis and lipid deposition. In vitro experiments demonstrated that, compared with the control group, PA/OA treatment significantly induced increased lipid deposition in HepG2 cells. Compared with the model group, paeoniflorin intervention significantly reduced intracellular lipid droplets, and lipid deposition showed a dose-dependent decreasing trend. Mechanism studies indicated that, compared with the normal control group, the MASLD model group exhibited significantly elevated expression of TLR4, HSP90AA1, and p-NF-κB p65, while p-IRS1 (Ser307) expression was elevated and p-Akt (Ser473) expression was reduced (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the expression of the aforementioned proteins was significantly reversed in all treatment groups following intervention (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionPaeoniflorin significantly alleviates lipid deposition and insulin resistance in MASLD mice. Its mechanism of action may involve targeting HSP90AA1, TLR4, and NF-κB1 to regulate the TLR4/NF-κB-IRS1 inflammation-insulin signaling axis. This regulation suppresses inflammatory responses and restores insulin signaling, thereby ameliorating abnormalities in glucose and lipid metabolism.
3.Serum Metabolomics of Simulated Weightless Rats Treated with Taikong Yangxin Pills
Xiaodi LIU ; Xuemei FAN ; Yiming WANG ; Mengjia YAN ; Yongzhi LI ; Jiaping WANG ; Junlian LIU ; Guoan LUO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(2):147-153
ObjectiveTo study the effect of Taikong Yangxin Pills on the metabolism of simulated weightless rats based on metabolomics and discuss the metabolism mechanism. MethodsIn the simulated space capsule environment on the ground, the rat model of simulated weightlessness was established by the tail suspension method. Rats were randomly grouped as follows: out-of-capsule control, in-capsule control, model, and high (3.0 g·kg-1) and low (1.5 g·kg-1) doses of Taikong Yangxin Pills, and they were administrated with corresponding drugs by gavage for 28 days. The serum levels of endogenous metabolites in rats were determined by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS). The obtained data were processed by principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) to screen for differential metabolites and potential biomarkers. MetaboAnalyst 5.0 was used for pathway enrichment analysis to explain the metabolic regulation mechanism of the drug. ResultsCompared with the out-of-capsule control group, the in-capsule control group showed elevated levels of thirteen metabolites, including 14-hydroxyhexadecanoic acid, linoleic acid, and α-linolenic acid (P<0.05), which suggested that the space capsule environment mainly affected the metabolism of α-linolenic acid and linoleic acid in the rats. Compared with the in-capsule control group, the model group showed lowered levels of fourteen metabolites, including 4-imidazolone-5-propionic acid, isocitric acid/citric acid, and L-tyrosine (P<0.05), which were recovered after the treatment with Taikong Yangxin pills (P<0.05). The pathway enrichment analysis revealed that weightlessness induced by tail suspension and drug intervention mainly involved the phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis, tyrosine metabolism, histidine metabolism, and citric acid cycle. ConclusionThe simulated space capsule environment and simulated weightlessness induced by tail suspension can both affect the metabolism level of rats. Taikong Yangxin pills can ameliorate the metabolic abnormality in the rat model of weightlessness by regulating various amino acids and energy metabolism-related pathways.
4.Development and validation of a prediction model for amputation risk in patients with diabetic foot ulcers based on systematic review and meta-analysis
Weidong HAN ; Yiming FAN ; Pan CHEN ; Nan HU ; Shiqi HU ; Te XIONG ; Rui YIN
Journal of Army Medical University 2025;47(18):2262-2271
Objective To develop and validate a prediction model for risk of amputation in patients with diabetic foot ulcers(DFU)based on systematic review and meta-analysis.Methods The studies on the risk factors of amputation in DFU patients was retrieved by using subject words+free words.After screening,37 cohort studies were finally included,and the Newcastle-Ottawa scale(NOS)was used for quality evaluation.Meta-analysis was performed on the risk factors of amputation in DFU.Then a prediction model for DFU amputation risk were constructed based on the statistically significant risk factors in the meta-analysis.The corresponding β value was calculated based on the combined odds ratio(OR)value of each risk factor,and each risk factor was scored to establish a scoring system model.The clinical data of 453 DFU patients hospitalized in our department from 2021 to 2023 were collected as a validation cohort.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis was used to evaluate the model performance.The area under the curve(AUC)was calculated,and the optimal cutoff score was determined by calculation of the maximum Youden index through sensitivity and specificity.Results Our meta-analysis showed a cumulative amputation rate of approximately 34.65%in 11 779 DFU patients.The final risk prediction models include gangrene[OR=11.92(5.86~24.24)],ulcer depth[OR=4.93(2.52~9.64)],osteomyelitis[OR=3.19(2.36~4.29)],previous amputation history[OR=3.19(2.00~5.09)]and lower extremity arterial disease[OR=3.10(2.31~4.17)].According to the weights of each risk factor,the total score of the model is 76,and the optimal cut-off score is 36.5.The prediction model performed well,with an AUC value of 0.864(0.824,0.903),a sensitivity of 0.743,a specificity of 0.859,and an accuracy rate of 83.00%.Conclusion A prediction model for DFU amputation risk is developed based on risk factor scoring,and has good discrimination and calibration,providing effective scientific basis for clinical research and clinical decision-making related to DFU amputation.
5.Erratum: Author correction to "The upregulated intestinal folate transporters direct the uptake of ligand-modified nanoparticles for enhanced oral insulin delivery" Acta Pharm Sin B 12 (2022) 1460-1472.
Jingyi LI ; Yaqi ZHANG ; Miaorong YU ; Aohua WANG ; Yu QIU ; Weiwei FAN ; Lars HOVGAARD ; Mingshi YANG ; Yiming LI ; Rui WANG ; Xiuying LI ; Yong GAN
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(6):3353-3353
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2021.07.024.].
6.Biomechanical Effects of Bone Quality Differences on Stability of Unicondylar Knee Replacement Prostheses
Zhangwen MA ; Jingting XU ; Yiming FAN ; Jing ZHANG ; Zhenxian CHEN
Journal of Medical Biomechanics 2025;40(5):1122-1128,1143
Objective To investigate the effects of patient bone mass differences on the stability of unicondylar knee arthroplasty(UKA)prostheses.Methods A UKA finite element model was established to quantify the effects of five different bone quality conditions on the proximal tibial von Mises stress,bone-prosthesis fixation interface contact stress,and bone-prosthesis fixation interface micromotion,using the medial knee force and joint motion predicted by the individualized UKA musculoskeletal multibody dynamics model as boundary conditions.Results The influences of bone strength on the proximal tibia von Mises stress and bone-prosthesis fixation interface contact stress were not obvious,and the difference in peak values of the proximal tibia von Mises stress between two groups of models with the largest difference in bone strength was not more than 5%,and the difference in peak values of the bone-prosthesis fixation interface contact stress was only 2.37 MPa.However,the influence of bone strength on the bone-prosthesis fixation interface micromotion was significant,and the weaker bones were more prone to cause the bone-prosthesis fixation interface micromotion.However,bone strength had a significant effect on the bone-prosthesis fixation interface micromotion,and weak bone was more likely to cause changes in the bone-prosthesis fixation interface micromotion.Compared to patients with the neutral bone quality,the prosthesis fixation interface micromotion increased by 84.67%at 20%gait cycles for patients with the weakest bone quality.Conclusions UKA patients with a weaker bone quality have a higher risk of prosthesis loosening.It is recommended that surgeons should carefully choose their surgical strategy in order to reduce the rate of postoperative revision in UKA.
7.Preparation and identification of monoclonal antibodies against cat allergen Fel d 1.
Linying CAI ; Zichen ZHANG ; Zhuangli BI ; Shiqiang ZHU ; Miao ZHANG ; Yiming FAN ; Jingjie TANG ; Aoxing TANG ; Huiwen LIU ; Yingying DING ; Chen LI ; Yingqi ZHU ; Guijun WANG ; Guangqing LIU
Chinese Journal of Cellular and Molecular Immunology 2025;41(4):348-354
Objective Currently, there is no commercially available quantitative detection kit for the main Felis domestic allergen (Fel d 1) in China. To establish a rapid detection method for Fel d 1, this study aims to prepare monoclonal antibodies against Fel d 1 protein. Methods The codon preference of Escherichia coli was utilized to optimize and synthesize the Fel d 1 gene. The prokaryotic expression plasmid pET-28a-Fel d 1 was constructed and used to express and purify the recombinant Fel d 1 protein. Subsequently, the recombinant protein was immunized into BALB/c mice and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were prepared by the hybridoma technique. An indirect ELISA was established using the recombinant Fel d 1 as the coating antigen, and hybridoma cell lines were screened for positive clones. The specificity and antigenic epitopes of the mAbs were confirmed by Western blot analysis. Finally, the selected hybridoma cells were injected into the peritoneal cavities of BALB/c mice for large-scale monoclonal antibody production. Results The recombinant plasmid pET-28a-Fel d 1 was successfully constructed, and soluble Fel d 1 protein was obtained after optimizing the expression conditions. Western blot and antibody titer assays confirmed the successful isolation of two hybridoma cell lines, 7D11 and 5H4, which stably secreted mAbs specific to Fel d 1. Antibody characterization revealed that the 5H4 mAb was of the IgG2a subtype and could recognize the amino acid region 105-163 of Fel d 1, while the 7D11 mAb was the IgG1 subtype and could recognize the amino acid region 1-59. Conclusion The high-purity recombinant Fel d 1 protein produced in this study provides a promising alternative for clinical immunotherapy of cat allergies. Furthermore, the monoclonal antibody prepared in this experiment lays a material foundation for the in-depth study of the biological function of Fel d 1 and the development of ELISA detection.
Animals
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Antibodies, Monoclonal/biosynthesis*
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Mice, Inbred BALB C
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Cats
;
Mice
;
Allergens/genetics*
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Glycoproteins/genetics*
;
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
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Hybridomas/immunology*
;
Recombinant Proteins/genetics*
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Female
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Antibody Specificity
8.Construction of interpretable predictive model of acupuncture for methadone reduction in patients undergoing methadone maintenance treatment based on machine learning and SHAP.
Baochao FAN ; Qiao ZHANG ; Chen CHEN ; Yiming CHEN ; Peiming ZHANG ; Liming LU
Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion 2025;45(10):1363-1370
OBJECTIVE:
To construct a predictive model for the reduction in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) and evaluate the effects of different interventions and other clinical factors on methadone reduction using Shapley additive explanations (SHAP).
METHODS:
Two clinical trials of acupuncture for methadone reduction in MMT patients were analyzed, and the baseline data, MMT related information, intervention measures, the data related to dose-reduction outcomes were collected. The predictive model was constructed by means of 6 machine learning algorithms including support vector machine (SVM), K-nearest neighbors (KNN), logistic regression (LR), Naive Bayes (NB), random forest (RF) and categorical-boosting (CatBoost), and 2 integration methods, blending-ensemble method (Blending) and Stacking-ensemble method (Stacking). SHAP was employed for the interpretability analysis of the optimal model.
RESULTS:
A total of 251 MMT patients were included, 128 cases in the acupuncture group and 123 cases in the non-acupuncture group. CatBoost and Stacking performed optimally in the test set. CatBoost obtained an accuracy of 0.780 0±0.060 8, a precision of 0.500 0±0.120 0, a recall of 0.818 2±0.140 2, F1 score of 0.620 7±0.114 0, and receiver operating characteristic-area under curve (ROC-AUC) of 0.857 8±0.140 2 for the subjects. In MMT patients with acupuncture as an adjunctive therapy, the top 5 important features for methadone reduction, included intervention measures, body mass index (BMI), the duration of MMT, the history of opioid use and occupation; and SHAP values were 1.25, 0.36, 0.21, 0.19 and 0.12, respectively. The SHAP feature dependence plot showed that BMI, MMT duration and the history of opioid use presented a nonlinear negative correlation with the reduction effect.
CONCLUSION
In acupuncture as adjunctive therapy for methadone reduction, the clinical factors should be considered comprehensively; and the interpretable predictive model provides a scientific basis for it, which is conducive to the improvement of clinical strategy of acupuncture for methadone reduction and the development of personalized reduction scheme.
Humans
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Methadone/therapeutic use*
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Acupuncture Therapy
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Adult
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Female
;
Male
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Machine Learning
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Middle Aged
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Opiate Substitution Treatment
;
Young Adult
9.Distribution of Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome Elements in Different Risk Populations of Heart Failure Complicated with Type 2 Diabetes: A Retrospective Study Based on Nomogram Model and Factor Analysis
Tingting LI ; Zhipeng YAN ; Yajie FAN ; Wenxiu LI ; Wenyu SHANG ; Yongchun LIANG ; Yiming ZUO ; Yuxin KANG ; Boyu ZHU ; Junping ZHANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(11):1140-1146
ObjectiveTo analyze the distribution characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome elements in different risk populations of heart failure complicated with type 2 diabetes. MethodsClinical data of 675 type 2 diabetes patients were retrospectively collected. Lasso-multivariate Logistic regression was used to construct a clinical prediction nomogram model. Based on this, 441 non-heart failure patients were divided into a low-risk group (325 cases) and a high-risk group (116 cases) according to the median risk score of heart failure complicated with type 2 diabetes. TCM diagnostic information (four diagnostic methods) was collected for both groups, and factor analysis was applied to summarize the distribution of TCM syndrome elements in different risk populations. ResultsLasso-multivariate Logistic regression analysis identified age, disease duration, coronary heart disease, old myocardial infarction, arrhythmia, absolute neutrophil count, activated partial thromboplastin time, and α-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase as independent risk factors for heart failure complicated with type 2 diabetes. These were used as final predictive factors to construct the nomogram model. Model validation results showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for the modeling group and validation group were 0.934 and 0.935, respectively. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test (modeling group P = 0.996, validation group P = 0.121) indicated good model discrimination. Decision curve analysis showed that the curves for All and None crossed in the upper right corner, indicating high clinical utility. The low-risk and high-risk groups each obtained 14 common factors. Preliminary analysis revealed that the main disease elements in the low-risk group were qi deficiency (175 cases, 53.85%), dampness (118 cases, 36.31%), and heat (118 cases, 36.31%), with the primary locations in the spleen (125 cases, 38.46%) and lungs (99 cases, 30.46%). In the high-risk group, the main disease elements were yang deficiency (73 cases, 62.93%), blood stasis (68 cases, 58.62%), and heat (49 cases, 42.24%), with the primary locations in the kidney (84 cases, 72.41%) and heart (70 cases, 60.34%). ConclusionThe overall disease characteristics in different risk populations of type 2 diabetes patients with heart failure are a combination of deficiency and excess, with deficiency being predominant. Deficiency and heat are present throughout. The low-risk population mainly shows qi deficiency with dampness and heat, related to the spleen and lungs. The high-risk population shows yang deficiency with blood stasis and heat, related to the kidneys and heart.
10.Research progress on indirect energy measurement in guiding energy and nutritional application in nutritional support therapy for critically ill patients.
Yinqiang FAN ; Jun YAN ; Ning WEI ; Jianping YANG ; Hongmei PAN ; Yiming SHAO ; Jun SHI ; Xiuming XI
Chinese Critical Care Medicine 2025;37(8):794-796
Nutritional support therapy is one of the extremely important treatment methods for patients in the intensive care unit. Timely and effective nutritional support regimens can improve patients' immune function, reduce complications, and optimize clinical outcomes. Energy expenditure is influenced by multiple factors, including patients' baseline characteristics (such as physical condition, gender, age) and dynamic changes in indicators (such as body temperature, nutritional support regimens, and therapeutic interventions). The currently recognized "gold standard" for accurately assessing energy metabolism in clinical practice is the indirect calorimetry system, also known as the metabolic cart. This device monitors carbon dioxide production and oxygen consumption in real time and uses specific algorithms to estimate the metabolic proportions of the three major nutrients (carbohydrates, fats, and proteins) in energy expenditure. An appropriate nutrient ratio helps maintain the balance between supply and demand in the body's nutritional metabolism. In the management of critically ill patients, the application of the metabolic cart enables personalized nutritional therapy, avoiding over- or under-supply of energy and optimizing the use of medical resources. Furthermore, with real-time, quantitative data support from the energy metabolism monitoring system, clinicians can develop more precise nutritional intervention strategies, thereby improving patient prognosis. This article provides a systematic review of the technical features of the metabolic cart and its application value in various critical care scenarios, aiming to offer a reference for indirect calorimetry in clinical practice.
Humans
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Critical Illness/therapy*
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Nutritional Support
;
Energy Metabolism
;
Calorimetry, Indirect

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