Hypertension, a common risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, has aroused global concern. As breakthroughs have been achieved in the traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) and western medicine theories related to the heart and brain, top international journals such as Science pay increasing attention to the functional interaction between the heart and brain in modern medicine, known as the "heart-brain" axis, also referred to as the "cardiovascular-brain" circuit. The heart and brain interact and influence each other through the "heart-brain" axis. Increasing evidence suggests that the inflammation-regulated "heart-brain" axis plays a crucial role in the occurrence and development of hypertension, offering new insights for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. In TCM, there is a connection between the heart and brain by the sharing of blood essence, interconnected blood vessels, and shared governance over the mind. Diseases of the heart and brain share common pathological and physiological foundations, similar risk factors, and TCM pathogeneses, which form the basis for simultaneous treatment of heart and brain diseases in TCM. The principle of simultaneous treatment of the heart and brain diseases aligns with the theory of "heart-brain" axis. Modern research has found that the heart and brain are the main target organs of hypertension. Long-term high blood pressure can easily cause structural changes, mainly characterized by left ventricular hypertrophy and dilation, leading to hypertensive heart disease. Hypertension can change the structure, blood supply, and function of the brain, being closely related to cerebral atherosclerosis, cerebral infarction, cerebral hemorrhage, cognitive dysfunction, dementia and other brain diseases. TCM treatment of hypertension has a long history. According to the pathogenesis(Yang hyperactivity and blood stasis) of hypertension, the team has developed the core treatment principle of subduing Yang and activating blood. Through extensive clinical exploration and experimental research, the team has developed an effective prescription called Tianxiong Granules. This prescription has shown definite efficacy in stabilizing blood pressure, ameliorating clinical symptoms, and reducing target organ damage. The protective effects of Tianxiong Granules on the heart and brain are reflected in aspects such as symptoms related to the heart and brain, pharmacological effects on ventricular hypertrophy, and brain protection. The preliminary research by the team found that Tianxiong Granules might treat hypertension by inhibiting sympathetic nerve excitation and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system(RAAS) and targeting mitochondrial autophagy to regulate the activation of the NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3(NLRP3) inflammasome. The activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome mediates pyroptosis, which is a key mechanism of hypertension. Next, the team will construct the adeno-associated viruses with downregulated NLRP3 expression via adenoviral vectors and use viral tracing technology, left stellate ganglionectomy, and a cardiac denervation model to reveal the mechanism of Tianxiong Granules in regulating the heart-brain interaction in hypertensive rats, from both in vivo and in vitro perspectives. In summary, exploring clinical treatment strategies for hypertension from both heart and brain based on the "heart-brain" axis is likely to be a new direction for the development of drugs for hypertension and offers a new target and basis for intervention in hypertension.
Humans ; Hypertension/physiopathology* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Brain/physiopathology* ; Animals ; Heart/physiopathology*

Based on the interleukin-17(IL-17) signaling pathway, this study explores the effect and mechanism of Bufei Decoction on Klebsiella pneumoniae pneumonia in rats. SD rats were randomly divided into the control group, model group, Bufei Decoction low-dose group(6.68 g·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), Bufei Decoction high-dose group(13.36 g·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), and dexamethasone group(1.04 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), with 10 rats in each group. A pneumonia model was established by tracheal drip injection of K. pneumoniae. After successful model establishment, the improvement in lung tissue damage was observed following drug administration. Core targets and signaling pathways were screened using transcriptomics techniques. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the mRNA expression of core targets interleukin-6(IL-6), interleukin-1β(IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), and chemokine CXC ligand 6(CXCL6). Western blot was used to assess key proteins in the IL-17 signaling pathway, including interleukin-17A(IL-17A), nuclear transcription factor-κB activator 1(Act1), tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6(TRAF6), and downstream phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(p-p38 MAPK), and phosphorylated nuclear factor-κB p65(p-NF-κB p65). Apoptosis of lung tissue cells was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling(TUNEL). The results showed that, compared with the control group, the model group exhibited significant pathological damage in lung tissue. The mRNA expression of IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, and CXCL6, as well as the protein levels of IL-17A, Act1, TRAF6, p-p38 MAPK/p38 MAPK, and p-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65, were significantly increased, and the number of apoptotic cells was notably higher, indicating successful model establishment. Compared with the model group, both low-and high-dose groups of Bufei Decoction showed reduced pathological damage in lung tissue. The mRNA expression levels of IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, and CXCL6, and the protein levels of IL-17A, Act1, TRAF6, p-p38 MAPK/p38 MAPK, and p-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65, were significantly decreased, with a significant reduction in apoptotic cells in the high-dose group. In conclusion, Bufei Decoction can effectively improve lung tissue damage and reduce inflammation in rats with K. pneumoniae. The mechanism may involve the regulation of the IL-17 signaling pathway and the reduction of apoptosis.
Animals ; Interleukin-17/metabolism* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Rats ; Male ; Klebsiella pneumoniae/physiology* ; Klebsiella Infections/immunology* ; Humans ; Lung/drug effects*

Coronary heart disease with angina pectoris,characterized by myocardial ischemic injury as its fundamental pathological mechanism,represents a prevalent cardiovascular condition.The"State-Target Differential Diagnosis and Treatment"presents a holistic regulatory framework,integrating macroscopic state regulation with microscopic targeting.Guided by this approach,the pathological evolution of coronary heart disease is examined through four dimensions:"state-target-cause-effect."The"cause"encompasses both the pathogenesis and etiological factors of traditional Chinese and Western medicine.The"effect"manifests as adverse cardiovascular events,including myocardial infarction and heart failure.The"state"delineates the progressive development pattern of qi to blood to deficiency,beginning with qi stagnation and cold congealment in the initial stage,followed by blood stasis and phlegm obstruction in the intermediate stage,and culminating in qi-blood deficiency in the advanced stage.The"target"encompasses multi-level therapeutic interventions addressing both symptomatic manifestations and clinical indicators.Building on this theoretical foundation,this research focuses on the pattern of qi sinking and blood stasis commonly observed in late-stage angina,systematically elucidating its state regulation and targeting therapeutic strategies.Using the clinical empirical formula Shengxian Quyu Decoction as the baseline state prescription,an in-depth investigation was conducted to determine optimal combination patterns of symptom-and biomarker-targeted medications.This study aims to establish a modernized differential treatment system for angina pectoris with the pattern of qi sinking and blood stasis,providing novel research perspectives and theoretical foundations for enhancing clinical efficacy and reducing the risk of cardiovascular events.

With the rise of the digital era,various digital technologies,including three-dimensional printing,reconstruction,and visualization,have been widely applied in medicine,particularly in surgery,advancing medical development and innovation.Digital technology and preci-sion medicine have advanced with the development and application of artificial intelligence(AI),leading to diverse innovations in the field of surgery.Digital technology has also facilitated new approaches in precision medicine,enabling the precise localization of lesions before sur-gery,real-time intraoperative navigation,and the establishment of predictive models for postoperative outcomes.These advancements have thus driven the comprehensive transformation of surgical practice toward greater personalization,precision,and intelligence.This study provides a comprehensive review of the application of digital technologies in gastrointestinal tumor management,encompassing preoperat-ive planning,intraoperative navigation,and postoperative recovery.The evolution of digital technologies is described,and an in-depth sum-mary is provided of the development and clinical value of digital technology in gastrointestinal tumor surgery.Additionally,the study pro-poses future directions for digital medicine in this field.

Objective:To explore the prognostic value of artificial intelligence-based P53 and Ki67 detection in stage I non-mucinous adenocarcinoma(INMA)of lung.Methods:A retrospective analysis was made of patients treated by radical surgical resection for INMA of lung in the Department of Thoracic Surgery of Peking University First Hospital from Jan.2015 to Dec.2016,with complete clinicopathological and 5-year follow-up data.Immunohistochemical staining for P53 and Ki67 was performed on all cases and the index of P53 and Ki67 was calculated with the assistance of artificial intelligence(AI).The optimal cut-off values for P53 and Ki67 were determined using X-Tile software,and based on these values,the patients were divided into low-expression and high-expression groups.Pearson chi-square test and Fisher's exact test were used to compare the differences in clinicopathological characteristics between the different groups.Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to assess the impact of various indicators on 5-year overall survival(OS)and disease-free survival (DFS)for stage I INMA.The time-dependent receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curves and the area under the curve(AUC)was used to analyze the predictive performance of P53 and Ki67 for the prognosis of stage I INMA.Results:Among the 191 patients, the median follow-up time was 60(54, 60) months. The index of P53 and Ki67 were 0%-100% and 1.0%-78.0%,respectively. The X-Tile software revealed optimal cut-off values of 62% for P53 and 20% for Ki67.Then the patients were divided into P53 low-expression group (<62%), P53 high-expression (≥62%) group and Ki67 low-expression (<20%)group,Ki67 high-expression group (≥20%). High expression of P53 was associated with male ( χ2=12.45, P<0.001), smoking ( χ2=12.24, P<0.001), pTNM stage ( χ2=16.28, P<0.001), and histological grade ( P<0.001). High expression of Ki67 was associated with male ( χ2=17.33, P<0.01), smoking ( χ2=21.67, P<0.01), and histological grade ( P<0.001). Male ( HR=2.612, 95% CI: 1.173-5.815, P=0.019), smoking ( HR=2.651, 95% CI: 1.246-5.642, P=0.011), high pTNM stage ( HR=3.815, 95% CI: 1.792-8.122, P<0.001), high histological grade ( HR=5.277, 95% CI: 2.400-11.606, P<0.001), high P53 expression ( HR=5.950, 95% CI: 2.792-12.680, P<0.001), and high Ki67 expression ( HR=3.349, 95% CI: 1.554-7.221, P=0.002) were associated with poorer disease-free survival (DFS). Male ( HR=9.050, 95% CI: 1.113-73.586, P=0.039), smoking ( HR=8.428, 95% CI: 1.701-41.765, P=0.009), high histological grade ( HR=6.865, 95% CI: 1.756-26.834, P=0.006), high P53 expression ( HR=16.699, 95% CI: 3.369-82.761, P<0.001), and high Ki67 expression ( HR=7.558, 95% CI: 1.806-31.632, P=0.006) were associated with poorer overall survival. P53 high-expression was identified as an independent risk factor for both DFS ( HR=2.843, 95% CI: 1.192-6.778, P=0.018) and OS( HR=6.909, 95% CI: 1.202-39.720, P=0.030) in stage I INMA patients. The area under the time-dependent ROC curves for predicting 5-year overall survival after surgery were 0.738 for p53, 0.674 for Ki67, 0.638 for pTNM staging, and 0.587 for histological grade. Among these, p53 demonstrated the highest predictive efficacy. Conclusions:AI-assisted interpretation of P53 and Ki67 indices improves test result repeatability. With critical values of 62% and 20%, high P53 and Ki67 expression indicates poor prognosis, while high P53 expression is an independent risk factor for lower OS and DFS, serving as a reference for postoperative adjuvant therapy screening.

Bovine rotavirus(BRV)is an important pathogen causing diarrhea in calves.To understand the genomic charac-teristics and genetic variations in bovine rotavirus,and to further enrich data on the biological characteristics of rotavirus,we aimed to amplify 11 gene segments of the isolated and cultured G6P[1]bovine rotavirus BLL strain,perform whole genome se-quencing,and analyze the molecular characteristics.MEGA7.0 and DNAMAN software were used for homology and typing a-nalysis,and the whole genome phylogenetic tree was constructed to analyze genetic evolution relationships.The complete geno-type of the BLL strain was G6-P[1]-I2-R2-C2-M2-A3-N2-T6-E2-H3.Phylogenetic analysis of the VP7 and VP4 genes of the BLL strain showed that the VP7 gene had the highest homology with RVA/Cow-wt/HB01/China/2021,and the VP4 gene of the BLL strain was in the same branch as RVA/Human-tc/ISR/Ro8059/1995.From the sequence alignment of VP8*amino acids,the sialic acid domain of the BLL strain was found to be similar to that in other P[1]strains,but different from those in other types of strains,except for residue 189,which was the same as that in Ro8059 but different from that in other strains.The results suggested that the BLL strain might potentially infect humans.Therefore,continued monitoring and study of the biological characteristics of this strain are necessary to provide more information and evidence supporting further research on the cross-species transmission of group A rotavirus in China.

Acute myocardial infarction and acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding are both critical internal medicine conditions. The incidence of acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with acute myocardial infarction ranges from 5.31% to 8.90%, with a mortality rate as high as 20.50% to 35.70%. The pathogenesis may be related to the use of antiplatelet and anticoagulant drugs, as well as stress-induced injury. In treatment, the contradiction between antiplatelet/anticoagulation therapy and bleeding has made this disease a significant challenge in modern medicine. Therefore, re-exploring the etiology, pathogenesis, treatment principles, and methods of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) for acute myocardial infarction and acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding is of great clinical importance. The research team has been working year-round in the coronary care unit(CCU), managing a large number of such severe patients. By revisiting classic texts and delving into the foundational theories of TCM and historical medical literature, it has been found that this disease falls under the category of "distant blood" in the Synopsis of the Golden Chamber. In terms of etiology, it is primarily associated with weakness of healthy Qi and damage caused by drug toxicity. In terms of pathogenesis, in the acute stage, it mainly manifests as insufficient spleen Yang, deficiency of spleen Qi, and failure of the spleen to control blood. In the remission stage, it is characterized by deficiency of both heart Qi and spleen blood. For treatment, during the acute stage, Huangtu Decoction is used to warm Yang and restrain blood, while in the remission stage, Guipi Decoction is administered to tonify Qi and nourish blood. During the treatment process, for patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated with acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding, it is crucial to flexibly apply the treatment principles of "Nil per os" in western medicine and "where there is stomach Qi, there is life; where there is no stomach Qi, there is death" in TCM. Early intervention with Huangtu Decoction can also prevent bleeding, with large doses being key to achieving hemostasis. It is important to address the pathogenesis of heat syndrome in addition to the core pathogenesis of Yang deficiency bleeding and to emphasize the follow-up treatment with Guipi Decoction for a successful outcome.
Humans ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/etiology* ; Myocardial Infarction/drug therapy* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Acute Disease

The evolution of acupuncture anesthesia (AA) has spanned six decades. Cardiothoracic surgery serves as a representative case study to illustrate this evolution. Reflecting on its historical development, the use of AA in cardiothoracic surgery has advanced from basic AA procedures in the 1960s to combined acupuncture and drug anesthesia techniques in the early 1980s. Since 2005, the innovative use of non-intubation AA combined anesthesia has been implemented extensively in cardiothoracic surgery. As the medical industry continues to evolve, the techniques applied in AA have expanded to encompass the entire perioperative period in cardiothoracic surgery, leading to the introduction of the concept of modern AA. The use of AA in cardiothoracic surgery exemplifies the ongoing advances and integration of traditional Chinese and Western medicine. Moving forward, it is imperative to enhance the theoretical framework of AA through the execution of rigorous multicenter clinical trials, to further strengthen the body of evidence supporting evidence-based medicine, and to finally explore the underlying mechanisms of AA. Please cite this article as: Wu XD, Wei XQ, Chen TY, Zhou WX, Wang K, Zhou J. From pioneering to innovation: A comprehensive review of acupuncture anesthesia in cardiothoracic surgeries. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(6):623-629.
Humans ; Acupuncture Analgesia/methods* ; Acupuncture Therapy/methods* ; Cardiac Surgical Procedures ; Anesthesia/methods* ; Thoracic Surgical Procedures

Background:Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge,commonly known as"Danshen"in China due to the distinctive red color of its roots,is one of the most widely used traditional Chinese medicines.It is cultivated in various regions across China,and environmental differences among these regions can affect the secondary metabolites of plants,thereby influencing the quality of S.miltiorrhiza.In recent years,increasing demand for S.miltiorrhiza has exacerbated the problem of origin fraud.Therefore,ensuring the authenticity of its geo-graphical origin is crucial for the sustainable development of the industry.Objective:The red coloration of S.miltiorrhiza is closely associated with the content of its primary active compounds,particularly tanshinones.Therefore,both its internal chemical composition and external color characteristics serve as key indicators for quality assessment.This study utilized hyperspectral imaging technology to evaluate its potential in classifying the geographical origin of S.miltiorrhiza.Methods:Spectral data reflecting the internal chemical properties of S.miltiorrhiza were integrated with color information represent-ing its external features through 3 levels of data fusion.These fused datasets were then combined with deep learning algorithms to achieve accurate origin classification.Results:The results demonstrated that the Transformer model combined with soft-voting decision-level fusion achieved the highest classification accuracy of 98.72％by integrating image color and short-wave infrared spectral data.Conclusion:This study demonstrates that integrating hyperspectral imaging spectral data with color information provides a reliable and innovative approach for verifying the authenticity and traceability of S.miltiorrhiza.

Background: Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, commonly known as “Danshen” in China due to the distinctive red color of its roots, is one of the most widely used traditional Chinese medicines. It is cultivated in various regions across China, and environmental differences among these regions can affect the secondary metabolites of plants, thereby influencing the quality of S. miltiorrhiza. In recent years, increasing demand for S. miltiorrhiza has exacerbated the problem of origin fraud. Therefore, ensuring the authenticity of its geographical origin is crucial for the sustainable development of the industry. Objective: The red coloration of S. miltiorrhiza is closely associated with the content of its primary active compounds, particularly tanshinones. Therefore, both its internal chemical composition and external color characteristics serve as key indicators for quality assessment. This study utilized hyperspectral imaging technology to evaluate its potential in classifying the geographical origin of S. miltiorrhiza. Methods: Spectral data reflecting the internal chemical properties of S. miltiorrhiza were integrated with color information representing its external features through 3 levels of data fusion. These fused datasets were then combined with deep learning algorithms to achieve accurate origin classification. Results: The results demonstrated that the Transformer model combined with soft-voting decision-level fusion achieved the highest classification accuracy of 98.72% by integrating image color and short-wave infrared spectral data. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that integrating hyperspectral imaging spectral data with color information provides a reliable and innovative approach for verifying the authenticity and traceability of S. miltiorrhiza.