BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with common pathophysiological processes, such as inflammation and fibrosis, in both the heart and the kidney. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms that drive these processes are not yet fully understood. Therefore, this study focused on the molecular mechanism of heart and kidney injury in CKD. METHODS: We generated an microRNA (miR)-26a knockout (KO) mouse model to investigate the role of miR-26a in angiotensin (Ang)-II-induced cardiac and renal injury. We performed Ang-II modeling in wild type (WT) mice and miR-26a KO mice, with six mice in each group. In addition, Ang-II-treated AC16 cells and HK2 cells were used as in vitro models of cardiac and renal injury in the context of CKD. Histological staining, immunohistochemistry, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and Western blotting were applied to study the regulation of miR-26a on Ang-II-induced cardiac and renal injury. Immunofluorescence reporter assays were used to detect downstream genes of miR-26a, and immunoprecipitation was employed to identify the interacting protein of LIM and senescent cell antigen-like domain 1 (LIMS1). We also used an adeno-associated virus (AAV) to supplement LIMS1 and explored the specific regulatory mechanism of miR-26a on Ang-II-induced cardiac and renal injury. Dunnett's multiple comparison and t -test were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Compared with the control mice, miR-26a expression was significantly downregulated in both the kidney and the heart after Ang-II infusion. Our study identified LIMS1 as a novel target gene of miR-26a in both heart and kidney tissues. Downregulation of miR-26a activated the LIMS1/integrin-linked kinase (ILK) signaling pathway in the heart and kidney, which represents a common molecular mechanism underlying inflammation and fibrosis in heart and kidney tissues during CKD. Furthermore, knockout of miR-26a worsened inflammation and fibrosis in the heart and kidney by inhibiting the LIMS1/ILK signaling pathway; on the contrary, supplementation with exogenous miR-26a reversed all these changes. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that miR-26a could be a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of cardiorenal injury in CKD. This is attributed to its ability to regulate the LIMS1/ILK signaling pathway, which represents a common molecular mechanism in both heart and kidney tissues.
Animals ; MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Angiotensin II/toxicity* ; Mice ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/chemically induced* ; Mice, Knockout ; Disease Models, Animal ; Male ; Signal Transduction/genetics* ; LIM Domain Proteins/genetics* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Cell Line ; Humans

Aim To explore the role and mechanism of the effective ingredients of Scutellariae Radix in improving the fibrosis of diabetes cardiomyopathy(DCM).Methods The technology platform of Chinese medicine system pharmacology(TCMSP)and the small molecule drug target prediction(Swiss Target Prediction)platform were used to excavate the active components of Scutellariae Radix and the target of its response.DCM related disease gene targets were screened using GeneCards,Disgene,UniPort and OMIM databases,and intersecting genes were imported into the String 11.5 database to construct a drug-disease-protein interaction network diagram.Cytoscape 3.9.1 software was a-dopted to visualize the key target network.Metascape platform was used to explore the molecular targets of Scutellariae Radix effective ingredients against DCM,and draw pathway maps through the KEGG database.H9c2 and AC16 cardio-myocytes were stimulated with 5.5 mmol/L D-glucose as the normal glucose control group,35 mmol/L D-glucose as the high glucose group,and 10 μmol/L Baicalin was used for intervention.The levels of TGF-β1,collagen Ⅰ(COL Ⅰ)and collagen Ⅲ(CO LⅢ)mRNA were detected by RT-qPCR,and the expression of Smad2/3,p-Smad2/3,COL Ⅰ and COL Ⅲprotein were detected by Western blot,TGF-β1 level in supernatant was assessed by ELISA.Results Through the a-bove platform,a total of 33 effective ingredients including Baicalin,441 core targets,and 1 884 DCM disease genes were retrieved,150 core genes for treating DCM with Scutellariae Radix were obtained.The drug-disease interacted genes such as TGF-β1,TP53,MMP-9 and IL-6 were obtained through String PPI,KEGG signaling pathways such as MAPK and PI3K/Akt were enriched.In vitro experiments showed high glucose stimulation of H9c2 and AC16 cardiomyocytes led to upregulation of TGF-β1,COL Ⅰ and COL Ⅲ mRNA levels,p-Smad2/3,COL Ⅰ and COL Ⅲ protein levels,and signifi-cantly increased the content of TGF-β1 in the supernatant,while Baicalin weakened its expression.Conclusion The active ingredients of Scutellariae Radix exert anti DCM effects through multiple targets,among which Baicalin inhibits TGF-β1/Smad signaling to improve high glucose induced cardiomyocyte fibrosis and plays a protective role in DCM.

Purpose/Significance By using data mining methods,the medication rules and prescription characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)for treating hypertension with preserved ejection fraction heart failure are discussed.Method/Process The da-tabase is established based on the TCMprescription information of hypertensive patients with preserved ejection fraction heart failure ad-mitted to the Cardiovascular Disease Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine from Janu-ary 2019 to July 2022.SPSS Statistics and Moderler software are used to analyze the frequency,taste,meridian tropism,efficacy,associ-ation rules,clustering and factor analysis of the prescriptions to explore medication rules.Result/Conclusion TCMin the treatment of hy-pertension with preserved ejection fraction heart failure is mainly to replenish qi and spleen,nourish the heart and calm the mind,relieve phlegm,relieve cough and asthma,and pay attention to promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis,promoting water infiltra-tion and dampness,which can reflect the overall concept of TCMand the characteristics of diagnosis and treatment based on syndrome dif-ferentiation and provide references for clinical medication.

Objective:To explore the association between the frequency of using smoking cessation application (APP) and the effect of smoking cessation in smoking cessation clinic.Methods:A clinical trial with a non-randomized controlled design was conducted in the smoking cessation clinic of China-Japan Friendship Hospital from July 2019 to June 2021. Participants were given a comprehensive smoking cessation intervention of mobile APP combined with bupropion. The primary outcome measures were carbon monoxide validated sustained abstinence at 9-12 weeks.Results:A total of 187 participants were included in the final analysis. After 12-week intervention, the sustained abstinence at 9-12 weeks was 42.2%. For the frequency of APP use, 20.9% (39/187) of the participants used it≥6 days per week, 62.0% (116/187) used it 2-5 days per week, and 17.1% (32/187) used it≤1 day per week. Multivariate analysis showed that smoking cessation rate was associated with smoking duration, cigarettes smoked per day and frequency of APP use. Participants with higher frequency of APP use had a higher likelihood of quitting smoking ( OR=4.95, 95% CI: 1.32-18.63). Conclusion:The increased frequency of mobile smoking cessation APP use is associated with higher probability of quitting smoking in smoking cessation clinic.

Objective:To describe the study methods and baseline characteristics of participants enrolled in mCessation program.Methods:This is a longitudinal, real-world study with non-randomized controlled design. The mCessation program consisted of a WeChat official account, an applet and a website using the same name ‘mCessation Online’. After users followed the WeChat account, filled in baseline information online and set a quit date, they would receive 162 short text messages in the next six and a half months as scheduled. This study collected the information of participants enrolled from May 26, 2021 to September 30, 2022, and analyzed baseline data including demographic characteristics, smoking characteristics, degree of tobacco dependence, reasons for smoking cessation and other related factors.Results:During the study period, a total of 16 746 participants registered, and 13 887 participants (82.9%) were enrolled in final analysis after screening the inclusion and exclusion criteria and completion of main indicators. Each year the number of enrolled participants in May or June was 1 381 to 2 707 per month, higher than the number of enrolled participants in other months (233 to 569 per month). Participants from North China accounted for the largest proportion (29.3%). There were 13 316 men (95.9%) in enrolled participants and the mean age was (36±10) years. Most participants were 25-34 (38.8%) or 35-44 (30.8%) years old. In terms of smoking characteristics, there were 12 564 (90.5%) daily smokers. The starting age of smoking was 18 (15, 20) years old. 11 866 participants (85.4%) were tobacco dependent, mostly with degree of mild (76.4%) or moderate (20.2%). In terms of reasons for quitting, 9 315 participants′ (67.1%) reasons were to prevent disease, 6 742 participants (48.5%) were concerned about impact of smoking on family members, and 6 731 participants (48.5%) were under requested by families.Conclusion:mCessation program can effectively recruit smokers with intention to quit in short time, especially those who were male, young and tobacco dependent.