1.HerbRNomes: ushering in the post-genome era of modernizing traditional Chinese medicine research
Yu TIAN ; Hai SHANG ; Gui-bo SUN ; Wei-dong ZHANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2025;60(2):300-313
With the completion of the "Human Genome Project" and the smooth progress of the "Herbal Genome Project", the research wave of RNAomics is gradually advancing, opening the research gateway for the modernization of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and initiating the post-genome era of medicinal plant RNA research. Therefore, this article proposes for the first time the concept of HerbRNomes, which involves constructing databases of medicinal plant, medicinal fungus, and medicinal animal RNA at different stages, from different origins, and in different organs. This research aims to explore the role of HerbRNA in self-genetic information transmission, functional regulation, as well as cross-species regulation functional mechanisms and key technologies. It also investigates application scenarios, providing a theoretical basis and research ideas for the resistance of TCM or medicinal plants to adversity and stress, molecular assistant breeding, and the development of small nucleic acid drugs. This article reviews recent research progress in elucidating the molecular mechanisms of the transmission and expression of genetic information, self-regulation and cross-species regulation of herbs at the RNA level, along with key technologies. It proposes a development strategy for small nucleic acid drugs based on HerbRNomes, providing theoretical support and guidance for the modernization of TCM based on HerbRNomes research.
2.Identification and functional analysis of β-amyrin synthase gene in Dipsacus asper.
Huan LEI ; Hua HE ; Jiao XU ; Chang-Gui YANG ; Wei-Ke JIANG ; Tao ZHOU ; Lan-Ping GUO
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(4):1043-1050
Dipsaci Radix is a commonly used Chinese herbal medicine in China, with triterpenoid saponins as the main active components. β-Amyrin synthase, a member of the oxidosqualene cyclase superfamily, plays a crucial role in the biosynthesis of oleanane-type triterpenoid saponins. Asperosaponin Ⅵ is an oleanane-type triterpenoid saponin. To explore the β-amyrin synthase genes involved in the biosynthesis of asperosaponin Ⅵ in Dipsacus asper, this study screened the candidate genes from the transcriptome data of D. asper. Two β-amyrin synthase genes, Da OSC1 and Da OSC2, were identified by phylogenetic analysis and correlation analysis. The coding sequences of Da OSC1 and Da OSC2 were 2 286 bp and 2 295 bp in length, encoding 761 and 764 amino acids,respectively. Multiple sequence alignments showed that Da OSC1 and Da OSC2 had three conserved motifs( DCTAE, QW, and MWCYCR) unique to the oxidosqualene cyclase family. Real-time quantitative PCR results showed that Da OSC1 and Da OSC2 had the highest expression levels in the roots. Compared with normal growth conditions, the low-temperature treatment significantly upregulated the expression of Da OSC1 and Da OSC2. Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression of Da OSC1 and Da OSC2 in Nicotiana benthamiana resulted in the production of β-amyrin, which suggested that Da OSC1 and Da OSC2 were able to catalyze the synthesis of β-amyrin. This study clarified the catalytic functions of two β-amyrin synthases in D. asper, analyzed their expression patterns in different tissue and at low temperatures. The findings provide a foundation for further studying the biosynthetic pathway and regulatory mechanism of asperosaponin Ⅵ in D. asper.
Intramolecular Transferases/chemistry*
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Phylogeny
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Plant Proteins/chemistry*
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Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
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Dipsacaceae/classification*
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Saponins/metabolism*
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Oleanolic Acid/metabolism*
3.Chemical constituents of Sophorae Flavescentis Radix and its residue based on UPLC-Q-TOF-MS.
Qian-Wen LIU ; Rong-Qing ZHU ; Qian-Nan HU ; Xiang LI ; Guang YANG ; Zi-Dong QIU ; Zhi-Lai ZHAN ; Tie-Gui NAN ; Mei-Lan CHEN ; Li-Ping KANG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(3):708-718
Sophorae Flavescentis Radix is one of the commonly used traditional Chinese medicine in China, and a large amount of pharmaceutical residue generated during its processing and production is discarded as waste, which not only wastes resources but also pollutes the environment. Therefore, elucidating the chemical composition of the residue of Sophorae Flavescentis Radix and the differences between the residue and Sophorae Flavescentis Radix itself is of great significance for the comprehensive utilization of the residue. This study, based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) technology combined with multivariate statistical methods, provides a thorough characterization, identification, and differential analysis of the overall components of Sophorae Flavescentis Radix and its residue. Firstly, 61 compounds in Sophorae Flavescentis Radix were rapidly identified based on their precise molecular weight, fragment ions, and compound abundance, using a self-constructed compound database. Among them, 41 compounds were found in the residue, mainly alkaloids and flavonoids. Secondly, through principal component analysis(PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA), 15 key compounds differentiating Sophorae Flavescentis Radix from its residue were identified. These included highly polar alkaloids, such as oxymatrine and oxysophocarpine, which showed significantly reduced content in the residue, and less polar flavonoids, such as kurarinone and kuraridin, which were more abundant in the residue. In summary, this paper clarifies the overall composition, structure, and content differences between Sophorae Flavescentis Radix and its residue, suggesting that the residue of Sophorae Flavescentis Radix can be used as a raw material for the extraction of its high-activity components, with promising potential for development and application in cosmetics and daily care. This research provides a scientific basis for the future comprehensive utilization of Sophorae Flavescentis Radix and its residue.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry*
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Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods*
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Mass Spectrometry/methods*
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Sophora/chemistry*
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Flavonoids/chemistry*
;
Alkaloids/chemistry*
4.Clinical efficacy of autologous apheresis platelet-rich plasma combined with adjustable titanium plate fixation in the treatment of Rockwood type Ⅲ acromioclavicular joint dislocation.
Wei CAI ; An-Ping WU ; Hai-Tao TAN ; Gao-Bing XU ; Zhuo-Yi FU ; Yong PENG ; Di-Shi GUI ; Qiao-Mei PU
China Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology 2025;38(6):587-593
OBJECTIVE:
To explore clinical efficacy of autologous platelet-rich plasma(PRP) in treating Rockwood type Ⅲ acromioclavicular dislocation.
METHODS:
From January 2019 to July 2021, 32 patients with Rockwood type Ⅲ acromioclavicular dislocation were treated with minimally invasive adjustable titanium plate internal fixation, and were divided into PRP group and control group according to whether PRP treatment was performed, with 16 patients in each group. In PRP group, there were 10 males and 6 females, aged from 28 to 47 years old with an average of (36.75±7.14) years old;the time from injury to surgery ranged from 1 to 31 h with an average of (26.13±3.98) h;5 patients on the left side and 11 patients on the right side;PRP was injected once during operation and the 4th and 8th weeks after operation respectively. In control group, there were 8 males and 8 females, aged from 30 to 52 years old with an average of (38.50±5.48) years old; the time from injury to surgery ranged from 1 to 29 h with an average of (25.48±3.11) h;7 patients on the left side and 9 patients on the right side; minimally invasive surgical treatment was performed. Visual analogue scale(VAS) was used to evaluate pain and Constant-Murley score for shoulder joint function was used to evaluate the recovery of shoulder joint movement function before operation and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after operation respectively.
RESULTS:
All patients were followed up for 12 to 28 months with an average of (18.3±5.2) months. All incisions patients healed well without adverse events such as infection. Postoperative VAS of PRP group at 1, 3, and 6 months were (5.5±1.2), (3.7±1.6), and (2.4±1.2), respectively, while were lower than those of control group (6.6±1.4), (4.9±1.1), and (3.7±1.3), respectively;and had statistical differences between two groups (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in VAS between two groups before operation and 12 months after operation (P>0.05). Postoperative Constant-Murley scores of PRP group at 1, 3, and 6 months were (64.09±11.61), (73.19±12.89), and (82.61±14.81) points, respectively, which were higher than those of control group were (52.32±17.42), (61.65±14.43), and (72.52±11.04) respectively;and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in Constant-Murley scores at 12 months after operation between two groups (P>0.05). In PRP group, there was no statistically significant difference at 6 months and 12 months after operation (P>0.05), while there were statistically significant differences at the other time points (1 month after operation compared with before operation, 3 months after operation compared with 6 months after operation, and 3 months after operation compared with 1 month after operation) (P<0.05). In control group, there was no statistically significant difference when comparing 1 month and 3 months after operation (P>0.05), while at the other time points (1 month after operation with before operation, 3 months after operation with 6 months after operation, and 6 months after operation with 12 months after operation), the differences were all statistically significant (P<0.05).
CONCLUSION
Adjustable titanium plate fixation combined with postoperative injection of PRP for the treatment of Rockwood type III acromioclavicular joint dislocation has effect of promoting the recovery of shoulder joint function and reducing pain.
Humans
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Male
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Female
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Adult
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Middle Aged
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Platelet-Rich Plasma
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Acromioclavicular Joint/surgery*
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Bone Plates
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Titanium
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Joint Dislocations/therapy*
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Fracture Fixation, Internal/methods*
5.Ginsenoside-Rg5 Synergizes with Imatinib to Enhances the Anti-Chronic Myeloid Leukemia K562 Cell Activity through PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway.
Di JIN ; Chang-Qing GUI ; Qian-Qian YE ; Guo-Fang DENG ; Chang-Ling ZHU ; Li XU
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2025;33(1):1-8
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the synergistic effect and its mechanism of ginsenoside-Rg5 in combination with imatinib in inhibiting proliferation of chronic myeloid leukemia K562 cells.
METHODS:
K562 cells were treated with ginsenoside-Rg5 and imatinib. Cell survival was detected by CCK-8 assay, and IC50 were calculated separately for each drug. Based on the value of IC50 of ginsenoside-Rg5 and imatinib, an appropriate concentration gradient was selected for the combination. The synergistic effect of the two drug was analyzed using the online software synergy finder. The effects of single or combination therapy on apoptosis rate and the cell cycle distribution of K562 cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. Western blot was used to detect the expression of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway related proteins and apoptosis related proteins in K562 cells after single or combination therapy.
RESULTS:
Ginsenoside-Rg5 and imatinib were able to inhibit the proliferative activity of K562 cells in a dosedependent manner(r =-0.991, r =-0.942). The synergy score ZIP >10 was measured by Synergy Finder online software, indicating that ginsenoside-Rg5 and imatinib act synergistically on K562 cells. The apoptotic rates of K562 cells after single treatments with ginsenoside-Rg5 and imatinib were 11.96% and 8.13%, respectively, while the rate increased to 21.35% with the combination of two drugs, the apoptosis rate in the combination group was higher than that in the single-drug group ( P <0.05). The proportion of K562 cells in the G0/G1 phase was significantly increased with the combined treatment of two drugs( P <0.05). The protein expression levels of p-PI3K, p-AKT, p-mTOR in K562 cells treated with the combination were significantly decreased, with noticeable downregulation of BCL-2 and upregulation of BAX, leading to a decreased Bcl-2/BAX ratio, while no significant changes were observed in the non-phosphorylated forms of PI3K, AKT, and mTOR proteins.
CONCLUSION
The combination of ginsenoside-Rg5 and imatinib can inhibit the proliferation of CML cells and induce apoptosis, and the mechanism may act through PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathways.
Humans
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Ginsenosides/pharmacology*
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Imatinib Mesylate
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K562 Cells
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TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism*
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism*
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Signal Transduction/drug effects*
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Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/metabolism*
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Drug Synergism
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Apoptosis/drug effects*
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Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism*
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Cell Proliferation/drug effects*
6.Case Analysis of MYH9 Related Disease with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Caused by Rare Mutations.
Xue-Ting KONG ; Dan-Yu WANG ; Ze-Lin LIU ; Zhao-Gui ZHOU ; Nan ZHONG ; Lei LIU ; Meng-Di JIN ; Hai-Yan CUI
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2025;33(4):1145-1149
OBJECTIVE:
To analyze the MYH9 gene sequence of a patient with hereditary thrombocytopenia and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and his family members, and to explore the relationship between MYH9 gene and tumors.
METHODS:
Peripheral blood samples were collected from the patients and their family members for complete blood count analysis. The platelet morphology was observed under microscope. The MYH9 gene sequence was analyzed by Whole Exon Sequencing and Sanger Sequencing.
RESULTS:
The mutation site c.279C>A:p.(Asn93Lys) in exon 2 of the MYH9 gene were found in patient and his family members, both presenting as thrombocytopenia. The platelet count was significantly increased after the administration of Avatrombopag.
CONCLUSION
A novel mutation of MYH9 was found in this study, and the case was sensitive to Avatrombopag, by exploring the relationship between the MYH9 gene and tumors, suggesting that the MYH9 gene may be associated with the development of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
Humans
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Myosin Heavy Chains/genetics*
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Thrombocytopenia/genetics*
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Mutation
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Male
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Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin/genetics*
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Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/genetics*
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Molecular Motor Proteins/genetics*
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Pedigree
7.Impact of Laboratory Analytical Indicators on Positive Blood Culture Detection Rates: A Single Center Study.
Di WANG ; Ling Li LIU ; Rui Rui MA ; Li Jun DU ; Gui Xue CHENG ; Ya Li LIU ; Qiao Lian YI ; Ying Chun XU
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(3):303-312
OBJECTIVE:
Blood culture remains the gold standard for diagnosing bloodstream infections. Clinical laboratories must ensure the quality of blood culture processes from receipt to obtaining definitive results. We examined laboratory analytical indicators associated with positive blood culture results.
METHODS:
Blood cultures collected from Peking Union Medical College Hospital between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2022, were retrospectively analyzed. The mode of transportation (piping logistics delivery vs. staff), source of blood cultures (outpatient/emergency department vs. inpatient department), rotation of personnel, and time of reception (8:00-19:59 vs. 20:00-07:59) were compared between blood culture-positive and -negative results.
RESULTS:
Between 2020 and 2022, the total positive rate of blood culture was 8.07%. The positive rate of blood cultures in the outpatient/emergency department was significantly higher than that in the inpatient department (12.46% vs. 5.83%; P < 0.0001). The time-to-detection of blood cultures was significantly affected by the delivery mode and personnel rotation. The blood culture positive rate of the total pre-analytical time within 1 h was significantly higher than that within 1-2 h or > 2 h ( P < 0.0170).
CONCLUSION
Laboratory analytical indicators such as patient source, transportation mode, and personnel rotation significantly impacted the positive detection rate or time of blood culture.
Blood Culture/statistics & numerical data*
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Humans
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Retrospective Studies
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Emergency Service, Hospital/statistics & numerical data*
8.Effect of Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation on Spatial Working Memory-related Neural Oscillations and Their Synchronicity
Miao-Miao GUO ; Biao ZHANG ; Tian-Heng ZHANG ; Tian WANG ; Hao-Di ZHAI ; Gui-Zhi XU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2024;51(9):2222-2239
ObjectiveSpatial working memory (SWM) is an important function in cognitive behavior, and working memory impairment can seriously affect the patient’s life and cause great stress to the patient. Intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) has been shown to regulate working memory function by entrainment of neural oscillations in different frequencies of the brain, but its regulation of working memory-related neural oscillations and their synchronization is not clear. The purpose of this study was to study the effect of iTBS on neural oscillation and synchronization in local and transbrain regions of rats, and to explore the mechanism of iTBS in regulating working memory. MethodsTwenty-four rats were randomly divided into four groups according to their age and whether they received iTBS stimulation (AS: adult stimulation group, AC: adult control group, ES: elderly stimulation group, EC: elderly control group). Using the methods of time-frequency distribution, phase synchronization and phase-amplitude coupling analysis, the changes of local field potential signal neural oscillations in the prefrontal and hippocampal brain regions of theta and gamma bands in the process of spatial working memory behavioral tasks in each group of rats were compared and analyzed, and the relationship between the changes of neural oscillations in the two brain regions and the changes in spatial working memory ability of rats was judged based on the Pearson correlation coefficient. ResultsWith the increase of age, the time taken by the elderly rats to learn the spatial working memory task rules increased significantly (P=0.005 6), and the time taken by iTBS stimulation to learn the SWM task rules in adult rats (P=0.001 1) and elderly rats(P=0.009 0) was shortened. At the same time, compared with adult rats, the time-frequency energy of theta and gamma band neural oscillations in the prefrontal and hippocampal brain regions of elderly rats (theta: P<0.000 1; gamma: P<0.000 1) and phase-amplitude coupling across brain regions (PFC-HPC: P=0.000 2; HPC-PFC:P=0.027 7) decreased to a certain extent, and iTBS stimulation could increase the time-frequency energy of neural oscillations of adult rats (theta: P<0.000 1; gamma: P<0.000 1) and elderly rats (theta: P=0.014 4; gamma:P=0.000 6) and the phase-amplitude coupling effect across brain regions in elderly rats (PFC-HPC: P=0.018 0; HPC-PFC: P=0.022 1). In addition, the time-frequency energy and phase-amplitude coupling of signals in each frequency band of the two brain regions were positively correlated with the behavioral accuracy of rats, while the phase synchronization of theta band and gamma band neural oscillations in the two brain regions during working memory was not correlated with the behavioral accuracy. ConclusioniTBS can enhance SWM ability and cognitive function in elderly rats, and this improvement is associated with increased coupling of time-frequency energy and cross-brain phase amplitude of neural oscillations across theta and gamma bands during SWM tasks. Similarly, in adult rats, iTBS enhances SWM ability and cognitive function by increasing the time-frequency energy of theta and gamma band neural oscillations in both brain regions during SWM tasks. Furthermore, in addition to the main findings, this study provides evidence supporting the state-dependent effects of iTBS stimulation to some extent.
9.Investigation and analysis of the current situation of case reporting ethical review and patient informed consent reports in comprehensive journals of clinical medicine in China
Yue CAO ; Yuliang GUI ; Yan YANG ; Le ZHOU ; Wenqi BAO ; Lumin ZHOU ; Qiaoni ZHONG ; Jingyi XIAN ; Di HUANG
Chinese Medical Ethics 2024;37(5):520-525
Objective:To investigate and analyze case reporting ethical review and patient informed consent reports published in the comprehensive journals of clinical medicine in China in 2022.Methods:According to the data from the 2022 Edition of the Chinese Science and Technology Journal of the Citation Reports(Extended Version),the case reports published in comprehensive journals of clinical medicine in 2022 were selected as the research objects.The information on ethics and patient informed consent was extracted from the case reports that met the selection criteria,and Microsoft Excel 2021 and SPSS 21.0 were used to sort out and analyze the data.Results:A total of 587 case reporting articles were published in the 42 included journals in 2022,of which 36(6.13%)reported on science and technology ethics and/or informed consent.Case reports reporting on science and technology ethics and/or informed consent mostly came from the key magazine of China technology(88.89%Vs.65.88%),and the proportion of manuscripts involving science and technology ethics on the official website of the journal was relatively high(86.11%Vs.63.88%),and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.01).Conclusion:The proportion of case reports of science and technology ethics and/or informed consent in journals of comprehensive discipline classification of clinical medicine was relatively low.Currently,most international journals are required to obtain the informed consent of patients or legal guardians before publishing case reports.Compared with this,there are still certain gaps in China,which need to be paid great attention to.
10.Expression of miR-182-5p in patients with chronic heart failure and its correlation with left ventricular remodeling and prognosis
Xuelu TANG ; Lei GUI ; Jie ZHENG ; Xiuhua DI
Chinese Journal of Geriatric Heart Brain and Vessel Diseases 2024;26(2):132-136
Objective To investigate the serum expression level of miR-182-5p in patients with chronic heart failure(CHF),and analyze its correlation with left ventricular remodeling and prog-nosis.Methods A total of 138 CHF patients admitted to Liaocheng People's Hospital from Janu-ary 2019 to December 2021 were enrolled as CHF group,and another 120 healthy volunteers who took physical examinations at the same time served as the healthy group.The expression level of miR-182-5p in serum was detected in the two groups.Pearson analysis was used to analyze the correlation between its expression level and left ventricular remodeling.ROC curve was plotted to analyze the diagnostic value of miR-182-5p expression level.During 1 year of follow-up,their sur-vival status was collected and analyzed in the CHF patients.The prognostic value of miR-182-5p expression level was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier survival curve.Results The CHF patients had significantly lower LVEF value,but higher left ventricular remodeling index(LVRI)and miR-182-5p expression level than the healthy group(P<0.05,P<0.01).The expression level of miR-182-5p was negatively correlated with LVEF(r=-0.496,P=0.000)and positively with LVRI(r=0.460,P=0.000).The AUC value of miR-182-5p expression level in diagnosing CHF was 0.964,the cutoff value was 0.905,the sensitivity was 91.3%,and the specificity was 86.7%.Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed that the high expression level of miR-182-5p could predict the overall survival of CHF patients(P=0.039).Conclusion The expression level of miR-182-5p is higher in CHF patients than healthy people,and the patients with higher level indi-cate more serious left ventricular remodeling.Detecting the expression level of miR-182-5p is help-ful for the diagnosis and poorgnosis prediction of CHF patients.

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