1.Treatment Approach for Diabetes with Coronary Heart Disease Based on the Heart-Spleen-Kidney Triad Holistic Perspective
Xitong SUN ; Xinbiao FAN ; Huan ZHOU ; Xiaofei GENG ; Aolin LI ; Wenyu SHANG ; Junping ZHANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(7):750-754
It is believed that diabetes complicated with coronary heart disease is closely related to the functional interplay of the heart, spleen, and kidneys. This paper proposed the concept of the heart-spleen-kidney as a unified system for understanding and treating the disease. At the early stage, spleen and kidney deficiency leads to the internal accumulation of phlegm, dampness, and turbid lipids, causing impaired blood circulation and vascular obstruction, so treatment should focus on tonify the kidneys and strengthening the spleen, activating blood circulation and resolving stasis, using the self-prescribed Tangxin Maiwen Formula (糖心脉温方). As the disease progresses, further decline of spleen and kidney function results in inadequate nourishment of the heart, leading to blood stasis and the accumulation of phlegm, dampness, and turbid lipids, which may transform into pathogenic heat and toxins, causing heart damage, then treatment should emphasize on boosting qi and nourishing yin, clearing heat, activating blood and resolving toxins, using the self-prescribed Tangxin Maiqing Formula (糖心脉清方). In advanced stages, three zang organs, the heart, spleen, and kidneys, become severely impaired, leading to mental activity fail to be nourished and abnormal cognitive functions, so treatment should focus on harmonizing the three zang organs simultaneously, using the self-prescribed Yunpi Tiaoxin Decoction (运脾调心汤). This approach aims to provide a clinical framework for the diagnosis and treatment of diabetes with coronary heart disease.
2.Clinical Practice of Coronary Microvascular Disease with the Integrated Approach of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine
Aolin LI ; Xinnong CHEN ; Lerong YU ; Jun GE ; Wei ZHOU ; Kangzheng GUO ; Junping ZHANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(16):1662-1667
This paper analyzed the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and western medical understanding of coronary microvascular disease (CMVD) from the three dimensions of "disease-syndrome-symptom". In western medicine, by summarizing the suspected diagnosis and understanding of CMVD, it is believed that inflammatory responses and vascular endothelial damage are the key mechanisms of the pathogenesis. From the perspective of TCM, the disease location is at blood, vessels and heart, and the fundamental cause is spleen and kidney depletion, closely realted to phlegm, stasis, toxin, wind and qi. Integrating the understanding of both TCM and western medicine, clinical treatment advocates taking the CMVD pathology as the base, and the TCM understanding of pathogenesis as the main focus. The properties of Chinese herbal medicinals is used as the guidance for medication, and the pharmacological understanding as the assisstance of treatment, with the medical history and the severity of the condition are additionally considered. It is finally proposed that during the acute phase, the methods of nourishing yin and resolving toxins, softening hardness and dissipating masses, dispelling wind and unblocking collaterals should be applied to alleviate the emergency. In the subacute phase, the focus should be on raising and lifting qi promote its movement, with flexible use of medicinals that can unblock yang. In the remission phase, the method of tonifying spleen and fortifying kidney should be used to maintain the stability of the condition.
3.A phenome-wide spectrum of morbidity and mortality risks related to the number of offspring among 0.5 million Chinese men and women: A prospective cohort study.
Meng XIAO ; Aolin LI ; Canqing YU ; Yuanjie PANG ; Pei PEI ; Ling YANG ; Yiping CHEN ; Huaidong DU ; Yujie HUA ; Junshi CHEN ; Zhengming CHEN ; Jun LYU ; Liming LI ; Dianjianyi SUN
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(22):2925-2937
BACKGROUND:
Prospective evidence on how offspring number influences morbidity and mortality remains limited. This study investigated the associations between number of offspring and morbidity and mortality risks among 0.5 million Chinese adults.
METHODS:
By using data from the China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB; n = 512,723, an approximately 12-year follow-up), sex-stratified phenome-wide association study (PheWAS) analyses were conducted to investigate associations between offspring number (without vs . with offspring; more than one vs . one offspring) and risks of ICD10-coded morbidity and mortality. Sex-specific adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated by Cox proportional-hazards models.
RESULTS:
Among 210,129 men and 302,284 women aged 30-79 years, 1,338,837 incident events were recorded. PheWAS results revealed that offspring number was associated with disease risks across multiple systems. Cox models showed that childless men ( vs . one offspring) had higher risks for nine of 36 diseases, while childless women for five of 37. Each additional offspring was associated with reduced risks of mental and behavioral disorders in men (aHR [95% CI] = 0.93 [0.87-0.98]) and both mental and behavioral disorders (aHR [95% CI] = 0.93 [0.89-0.97]) and breast cancer (aHR [95% CI] = 0.82 [0.78-0.86]) in women. However, each additional offspring was associated with a 4% increase in the risk of cholelithiasis and cholecystitis in women (aHR [95% CI] = 1.04 [1.02-1.07]). Among 282,630 patients, 44,533 deaths were documented. Childless patients had higher mortality risk in both men (aHR [95% CI] = 1.37 [1.28-1.47]) and women (aHR [95% CI] = 1.27 [1.15-1.41]). For men, each additional offspring reduced mortality by 4% (aHR [95% CI] = 0.96 [0.95-0.98]), while for women, the lowest risk was observed among those with three to four offspring ( Pnonlinear <0.0001).
CONCLUSIONS
Offspring number is closely linked to morbidity and mortality risks. Further research is warranted to verify our findings and clarify the underlying mechanisms involved.
Adult
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Aged
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle Aged
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China/epidemiology*
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Morbidity
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Proportional Hazards Models
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Prospective Studies
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Risk Factors
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Family Characteristics
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Mortality
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East Asian People
4.Physical activity and its influencing factors in patients with diabetes mellitus: a comparative study between China and the United Kingdom
Aolin LI ; Jun LYU ; Yuanyuan CHEN ; Zilun SHAO ; Liming LI ; Dianjianyi SUN ; Canqing YU
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2024;45(2):171-177
Objective:To compare the differences in low-level physical activity (PA) and related influencing factors in patients with diabetes mellitus in China and the United Kingdom (UK).Methods:Using baseline survey data from the China Kadoorie Biobank and the UK Biobank, we analyzed the association between diabetes mellitus and low-level PA using logistic regression, with the participants' self-reported whether they had diabetes mellitus as the independent variable, and low-level PA as the dependent variable.Results:We included 509 254 Chinese adults and 359 763 British adults in the analysis. After adjusting for multiple factors, we found that both Chinese and British patients with diabetes mellitus were at elevated risk for low-level PA, with corresponding ORs (95% CIs) of 1.15 (1.12-1.19) and 1.37 (1.32-1.41), respectively. Patients with diabetes mellitus with longer disease duration and poorer glycemic control were at greater risk of having low-level of PA. Female, rural-distributed, employed, never-smoking Chinese diabetics, and male, urban-distributed, retired/unemployed, quit-smoking British diabetics were more likely to have low-level PA. Conclusions:Chinese and British patients with diabetes mellitus were more likely to have low-level PA compared with the general population, but the risk of low-level PA for patients in both countries varied by population characteristics. Therefore, PA guidelines and intervention measures should be based on the characteristics of individuals in the target countries and regions, which could improve PA levels among patients with diabetes mellitus.
5.Progress in research of relationship between marital status and cancer
Meng XIAO ; Aolin LI ; Xiaxuan ZHU ; Canqing YU ; Jun LYU ; Liming LI ; Dianjianyi SUN
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2024;45(6):886-891
In recent 30 years, the global burden of cancer has become more serious, and one of social problem is population aging, plus declining birth rate, declining marriage rate and increasing divorce rate. Marriage is one of the most intimate and long-term social relations, and previous research had piecemeal reports of its impact on cancer morbidity and mortality without systematic review of evidence in high-quality population based epidemiological research. This paper summarizes the progress in research of the relationship between marital status and cancer to provide reference for future research and cancer prevention and control.
6.Mitochondrial Quality Control Affects Diabetic Cardiomyopathy:Based on Theory of Qi Deficiency and Stagnation
Aolin LI ; Lu LIAN ; Xinnong CHEN ; Yingyu XIE ; Zhipeng YAN ; Wenhui CAI ; QianQian ZHANG ; Chi ZHANG ; Junping ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(8):197-205
With the increasing incidence of diabetes mellitus in recent years, cardiomyopathy caused by diabetes mellitus has aroused wide concern and this disease is characterized by high insidiousness and high mortality. The early pathological changes of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) are mitochondrial structural disorders and loss of myocardial metabolic flexibility. The turbulence of mitochondrial quality control (MQC) is a key mechanism leading to the accumulation of damaged mitochondria and loss of myocardial metabolic flexibility, which, together with elevated levels of oxidative stress and inflammation, trigger changes in myocardial structure and function. Qi deficiency and stagnation is caused by the loss of healthy Qi, and the dysfunction of Qi transformation results in the accumulation of pathogenic Qi, which further triggers injuries. According to the theory of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), DCM is rooted in Qi deficiency of the heart, spleen, and kidney. The dysfunction of Qi transformation leads to the generation and lingering of turbidity, stasis, and toxin in the nutrient-blood and vessels, ultimately damaging the heart. Therefore, Qi deficiency and stagnation is the basic pathologic mechanism of DCM. Mitochondria, similar to Qi in substance and function, are one of the microscopic manifestations of Qi. The role of MQC is consistent with the defense function of Qi. In the case of MQC turbulence, mitochondrial structure and function are impaired. As a result, Qi deficiency gradually emerges and triggers pathological changes, which make it difficult to remove the stagnant pathogenic factor and aggravates the MQC turbulence. Ultimately, DCM occurs. Targeting MQC to treat DCM has become the focus of current research, and TCM has the advantages of acting on multiple targets and pathways. According to the pathogenesis of Qi deficiency and stagnation in DCM and the modern medical understanding of MQC, the treatment should follow the principles of invigorating healthy Qi, tonifying deficiency, and regulating Qi movement. This paper aims to provide ideas for formulating prescriptions and clinical references for the TCM treatment of DCM by targeting MQC.
7.Exploration of Clinical Thoughts for Treatment of Stable Angina with Insomnia under the Guidance of the "Blood-Pulse-Heart-Spirit"
Xinbiao FAN ; Zhipeng YAN ; Xiaofei GENG ; Lu LIAN ; Binbin DING ; Aolin LI ; Junping ZHANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;65(12):1240-1244
Guided by the concept of "blood-pulse-heart-spirit", it is believed that stable angina combined with insomnia is caused by disturbance of blood vessels, which leads to loss of nourishment for the heart body and heart spirit, so the core treatment principle is to regulate the blood vessels and calm the mind. At the beginning of the disease, it shows as the liver fails to govern the free flow of qi, and disorders qi and blood; during the progress of the disease, it shows as spleen deficiency and phlegm stagnation, phlegm and blood stasis obstructing the vessels; the central mechanism of the disease shows as disturbance of blood vessels and insufficient heart yin. For the pattern of liver depression and blood stasis, pattern of phlegm and blood stasis blocking the vessels, and pattern of heart yin deficiency, it is recommended to treat by Wuzang Shenning Formula (五脏神宁方) to dredge the liver and regulate the vessels, Banxia Houpo Decoction (半夏厚朴汤) plus Gualou Xiebai Banxia Decoction (瓜蒌薤白半夏汤) to dissolve phlegm and regulate the vessels, and Yunpi Tiaoxin Decoction (运脾调心汤) to nourish the yin and regulate the vessels. Throughout the treatment, pattern differentiation and treatment is accompanied by the method of calming the mind with heavy sedatives and nourishing the blood to calm the mind, so as to achieve the purpose of regulating mind and heart together and treating the body and spirit at the same time.
8.ZHANG Junping's Experience in Treating Coronary Heart Disease Complicated with Hypothyroidism with Four Methods of Warming Yang
Aolin LI ; Lu LIAN ; Xinnong CHEN ; Zhipeng YAN ;
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;65(3):245-250
This paper summarized Professor ZHANG Junping's clinical experience in treating coronary heart disease (CHD) combined with hypothyroidism. It is believed that yang deficiency was the root cause of CHD complicated with hypothyroidism, and also the key pathogenesis throughout its development. Accordingly, combined with the different focuses on the lesions in the blood, pulse, heart and spirit, Professor ZHANG took warming yang as the basic rule and summarized the four methods of warming yang for syndrome differentiation and treatment. When spleen-kidney yang deficiency, disturbance of qi transformation, dysfunction of blood transportation as the pathological basis of CHD combined with hypothyroidism, the self-prescribed Butian Formula (补天方) could be used for warming yang and benefiting the kidney, thereby regulating Qi and blood; when the cold and dampness blocked the blood vessels, and turbidity-toxin generated gradually, resulting in heart vessel obstruction, the self-prescribed Huazhuo Changmai Decoction (化浊畅脉汤) could be used to warm yang and dissolve the turbidity so that to unblock the heart vessels; when the structure and function of the heart fail, edema due to yang deficiency with pericardial fluid retention, the self-prescribed Yuxin Baomai Formula (育心保脉方) could be used to warm yang and excret water, and protect the heart; when yang deficiency led to emotional and mental stagnation, and the heart impairment aggravated emotional and mental disorders, which resulted in emotional and mental abnormalities, the self-prescribed Jieyu Anshen Decoction (解郁安神汤) could be used to relieve emotional and mental stagnation, and calm mind.
9.Modified Wenshen Yixin Formula (温肾益心方加减) for Coronary Heart Disease Complicated with Hypothyroidism of Spleen-kidney Yang Deficiency:A Prospective Real-world Study of 51 Cases
Aolin LI ; Zhipeng YAN ; Lu LIAN ; Qianqian ZHANG ; Chi ZHANG ; Boyu ZHU ; Lei WEI ; Zhihan YANG ; Junping ZHANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;65(20):2116-2125
ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy and relative mechanism of the Modified Wenshen Yixin Formula (温肾益心方加减, MWYF) as an auxiliary treatment of coronary heart disease (CHD) complicated with hypothyroidism of spleen-kidney yang deficiency. MethodsA total of 135 CHD patients complicated with hypothyroidism and spleen-kidney yang deficiency were included and divided into control group (67 cases) and experimental group (68 cases) according to the patients' wishes of herbal medicine administration. The control group was given conventional western medicine, while the treatment group was additionally given MWYF, 1 dose per day; both groups were treated for 8 weeks. The traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome scores, angina scores, SF-36 scores, thyroid function indicators including thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), as well as serum cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), monocyte chemoattractant ligand 2 (CCL2), and tumor necrosis factor-related activator protein (CD40L) levels before and after treatment were compared between the two groups. The dosage and reduction and discontinuation rate of thyroid hormone preparations after treatment were compared between the two groups. The effectiveness regarding TCM syndrome and angina pectoris was evaluated, and the safety was assessed. ResultsBias was adjusted by matching on propensity score, and 102 cases were finally included in the statistical analysis, with 51 cases in each group. The total effective rate regarding TCM syndrome [94.12% (48/51) versus 64.71% (33/51)], the total effective rate regarding angina pectoris [80.39% (41/51) versus 62.75% (32/51)], and the reduction and discontinuation rate of thyroid hormone preparation [39.21% (20/51) versus 5.88% (3/51)] were significantly higher in the experimental group than those in the control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). After treatment, the total TCM syndrome score, individual scores of major symptoms , the major symptoms score, the secondary symptoms score, angina pectoris score, and TSH level were significantly reduced (P<0.01), while all dimensions of SF-36 scores, T4, T3, and cAMP levels significantly increased in both groups (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The dosage of thyroid hormone preparations and the levels of cGMP, CCL2, and CD40L in the experimental group significantly decreased after treatment (P<0.01). When compared between the two groups after treatment, the total TCM syndrome score, the major symptoms score, the scores of individual major symptom (chest tightness, chest pain, fear of cold, cold limbs, waist and kness soreness and weakness), the secondary symptoms score, angina pectoris score, TSH, cGMP, CCL2, and CD40L levels of the experimental group were significantly lower than those of the control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01), while all dimension scores of SF-36, T4, T3, and cAMP levels were significantly higher (P<0.01). A total of three adverse events occurred during treatment, none of which were judged to be related to the interventions of this study. ConclusionMWYF can significantly ameliorate the TCM syndrome, angina pectoris, quality of life and thyroid function in CHD patients complicated with hypothyroidism and spleen-kidney yang deficiency, and can promote the reduction and disconti-nuation of thyroid hormone preparations. The mechanism may be related to the regulation of cAMP/cGMP balance, the regulation of hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid metabolic axis and the reduction of immune inflammation.
10.Primordial Drivers of Diabetes Heart Disease: Comprehensive Insights into Insulin Resistance
Yajie FAN ; Zhipeng YAN ; Tingting LI ; Aolin LI ; Xinbiao FAN ; Zhongwen QI ; Junping ZHANG
Diabetes & Metabolism Journal 2024;48(1):19-36
Insulin resistance has been regarded as a hallmark of diabetes heart disease (DHD). Numerous studies have shown that insulin resistance can affect blood circulation and myocardium, which indirectly cause cardiac hypertrophy and ventricular remodeling, participating in the pathogenesis of DHD. Meanwhile, hyperinsulinemia, hyperglycemia, and hyperlipidemia associated with insulin resistance can directly impair the metabolism and function of the heart. Targeting insulin resistance is a potential therapeutic strategy for the prevention of DHD. Currently, the role of insulin resistance in the pathogenic development of DHD is still under active research, as the pathological roles involved are complex and not yet fully understood, and the related therapeutic approaches are not well developed. In this review, we describe insulin resistance and add recent advances in the major pathological and physiological changes and underlying mechanisms by which insulin resistance leads to myocardial remodeling and dysfunction in the diabetic heart, including exosomal dysfunction, ferroptosis, and epigenetic factors. In addition, we discuss potential therapeutic approaches to improve insulin resistance and accelerate the development of cardiovascular protection drugs.

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