1.Cardiomyocyte Apoptosis in Chronic Heart Failure and Traditional Chinese Medicine Intervention
Kun LIAN ; Peiyao LI ; Zhiguang SONG ; Jianhang ZHANG ; Junxian LEI ; Lin LI ; Zhixi HU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(16):165-172
Chronic heart failure is the terminal stage of various cardiovascular diseases, and cardiomyocyte apoptosis is the turning point of decompensation. Studies have shown that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) could regulate apoptosis-related signaling pathways and factors and inhibit or up-regulate the expression of apoptosis-related proteins. Thus, TCM can reduce cardiomyocyte apoptosis, protect the myocardial tissue and improve the cardiac function, demonstrating remarkable clinical effects. In recent years, the research on the treatment of chronic heart failure based on the inhibition of cardiomyocyte apoptosis is increasing and becomes the current research hotspot. On the basis of literature review, this paper discovers that TCM regulates apoptosis factors and multiple signaling pathways to inhibit apoptosis and inflammation and delay the progression of chronic heart failure through classical pathways such as the death receptor pathway, the mitochondrial pathway, and the endoplasmic reticulum pathway. At the same time, the studies in this field have the following problems: Repeated studies with shallow, simple, and fragmented contents, treating animal models with TCM prescriptions without syndrome differentiation, treating diseases with drugs at only one concentration which is insufficient to indicate efficacy, and lacking comprehensive, holistic, and systematic studies on the relationships of apoptosis with inflammatory responses, pyroptosis, ferroptosis, and autophagy. In the future, more scientific, reasonable, comprehensive, and feasible experimental schemes should be designed on the basis of comprehensively mastering the research progress in this field, and the communication and cooperation between researchers in different disciplines should be strengthened. The specific pathological mechanism of cardiomyocyte apoptosis in chronic heart failure and the signaling pathways, active components, and action targets of TCM in inhibiting cardiomyocyte apoptosis in chronic heart failure should be elucidated. Such efforts are expected to provide sufficient reference for the clinical treatment of chronic heart failure.
2.Excerpt and interpretation of the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease in 2025
Siyi LEI ; Liyou LIAN ; Minghua ZHENG
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(6):1043-1052
Since the Asia-Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver (APASL) issued the clinical practice guidelines for metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) in 2020, the research on MAFLD has been further deepened. Therefore, APASL has made comprehensive updates and revisions based on the previous guidelines, and the latest version of the clinical practice guidelines for diagnosis and management of MAFLD, which was released in February 2025, has updated the epidemiology, screening, assessment, and treatment of MAFLD, aiming to promote the clinical practice, knowledge popularization, and scientific research of MAFLD. This article makes an excerpt and an interpretation of the updated key points of the guidelines.
3.Heavy metal pollution in rural soil and ecological risk in Wanzhou District, Chongqing
Longfeng CHENG ; Xiangqiang HUANG ; Lian XIANG ; Yue LI ; Ya WU ; Lei TONG ; Ji LI
Shanghai Journal of Preventive Medicine 2024;36(8):760-764
ObjectiveTo analyze and assess the pollution levels of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and chromium (Cr) in rural soils of Wanzhou District, Chongqing Municipality, and to provide data support for proposing relevant measures and suggestions. MethodsBased on the soil monitoring data from 2017 to 2021, the ecological risk assessment was conducted by applying the Soil Pollution Risk Control Standard for Agricultural Land of Soil Environmental Quality (for trial implementation) (GB 15168‒2018), the pollution index method and the potential ecological risk method. ResultsA total of 100 soil samples were collected, with pH values ranged from 3.50 to 8.30, and a mean value of 6.10. The mean values of Pb, Cd, and Cr in the soil were 25.2 mg·kg-1, 0.310 mg·kg-1, and 68.6 mg·kg-1, respectively. Except for Cr, the mean values of other elements exceeded the soil background values. Cd level had the largest coefficient of variation and uneven spatial distribution, with an overall exceedance rate of 30.0%. Pollution levels of Pb and Cr were generally at the alert level, while Cd was generally at a light pollution level. The proportion of Cd pollution levels was higher than that of Pb and Cr, and the difference was statistically significant(χ2=15.015, P=0.001). The Nemerow comprehensive pollution index in different townships ranged from 0.70 to 2.07, with a median value of 1.10, and was generally at a light pollution level. The potential ecological hazard risk of Cd was relatively high, and was generally at a mild level of hazard. The highest contribution rate in the comprehensive potential ecological hazard index was Cd, accounting for 84.1%. ConclusionThere is a certain degree of Cd pollution and mild ecological risk in rural soils of Wanzhou District. Monitoring and management of Cd pollution in rural soils of Wanzhou District, Chongqing Municipality, should be strengthened.
4.Meta-analysis of the clinical efficacy of low-concentrations atropine in controlling adolescent myopia
Zhidong JIANG ; Lian CHENG ; Yong ZHANG ; Lei LIANG ; Jinting RUAN ; Yanfei HUANG ; Liangliang LI
International Eye Science 2024;24(11):1784-1794
AIM: To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of low-concentrations atropine eye drops in controlling adolescent myopia.METHODS:A computer search was conducted on Wanfang Data, CNKI, VIP, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases from January 2010 to March 2024 on clinical studies on low-concentration atropine eye drops for controlling adolescent myopia. Two researchers independently screened trials, extracted data, evaluated risk of bias and quality, and used Review Manager5.4 software to perform Meta-analysis.RESULTS:A total of 17 articles, involving 3 764 cases and 3 952 eyes, were included. The Meta-analysis showed that compared with the control group, low concentrations of atropine could effectively slow down the growth of axial length [MD=-0.15, 95% CI(-0.20, -0.10), P<0.00001], significantly controlled the changes in spherical equivalent [MD=0.39, 95% CI(0.29, 0.48), P<0.00001], and had a significant effect on pupil diameter [MD=0.80, 95% CI(0.33,1.28), P=0.0010] and amplitude of accommodation [MD=-2.54, 95%CI(-4.49, -0.60), P=0.01].CONCLUSION:Low-concentrations atropine are effective in controlling spherical equivalent and axial length of myopia in adolescents, significantly affecting pupil diameter and amplitude of accommodation, and effectively delaying the progression of myopia.
5.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.
6.Research Advances of Anticoagulation on Venous thromboembolism Associated with Gastric Cancer
Xingyue ZHENG ; Lian LI ; Liuyun WU ; Qinan YIN ; Lizhu HAN ; Yang LEI ; Yuan BIAN
Herald of Medicine 2024;43(2):228-233
Patients with gastric cancer are at high risk for venous thromboembolism(VTE)and bleeding,and patients who develop VTE are often associated with poor outcomes,making it clinically challenging to identify and manage the risk of thrombosis in patients with gastric cancer.Risk factors for VTE in gastric cancer patients include age,obesity,surgery,chemotherapy,etc.It is essential to identify high-risk patients and adopt aggressive prevention strategies.The main strategy to prevent and treat VTE is the use of anticoagulant drugs.This article discusses guidelines and recent studies for the prevention and treatment of VTE in patients with gastric cancer to help clinicians make individualized decisions for their patients and maximize clinical outcomes for their patients.
7.Research Advances on Prophylactic Anticoagulant Therapy for Primary Membranous Nephropathy
Lian LI ; Xingyue ZHENG ; Liuyun WU ; Qinan YIN ; Lizhu HAN ; Yang LEI ; Yuan BIAN
Herald of Medicine 2024;43(3):418-423
Patients with primary membranous nephropathy(PMN)tend to develop thrombosis,especially in the early phase of the disease.The pathogenesis of thrombosis is multifactorial,with hypoalbuminemia being widely regarded as an inde-pendent risk factor.Other factors include proteinuria,M-type phospholipase A2 receptor antibody,and D-dimer.Although prophy-lactic anticoagulation therapy is frequently used in clinical practice to prevent thrombosis in PMN patients,there are still many un-resolved issues regarding the optimal prevention of thrombosis in this condition.The timing of prophylactic anticoagulation,the threshold of serum albumin level,and the choice of treatment regimen are still lacking consensus.This article reviewed the relevant literature on these topics,aiming to establish a standard for thrombosis prevention and treatment for this population in the future and provide guidance for clinical practice.
8.Play the "combo fist" in the diagnosis and treatment of advanced gastric cancer
Lei LIAN ; Shi YIN ; Jian XIAO ; Junsheng PENG
Chinese Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery 2024;27(2):196-204
The incidence of gastric cancer ranks fifth among malignant tumors worldwide, with the fourth highest mortality rate. A noteworthy characteristic of our country is the high prevalence of advanced-stage patients of approximately 40%. Advanced-stage gastric cancer carries an unfavorable prognosis with median survival of around one year. Diagnosis methods for advanced-stage gastric cancer (such as laparoscopic exploration, molecular profiling, and artificial intelligence) are still being continuously improved, while chemotherapy remains the primary treatment. With the rapid development of medical science, the role of surgical intervention in advanced-stage gastric cancer is becoming increasingly prominent. Therefore, as gastric tumor surgeons, we should consider how to use a combination of treatments, including surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and interventional therapy, based on different pathological stages and the heterogeneity of tumors. With a multidisciplinary approach involving experts from various fields, we can collectively improve the survival rate and quality of life for advanced-stage patients. This article provides a brief overview of the current advances in the diagnosis and treatment of advanced-stage gastric cancer, and discusses therapeutic decision primarily from the perspective of surgeons.
9.Play the "combo fist" in the diagnosis and treatment of advanced gastric cancer
Lei LIAN ; Shi YIN ; Jian XIAO ; Junsheng PENG
Chinese Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery 2024;27(2):196-204
The incidence of gastric cancer ranks fifth among malignant tumors worldwide, with the fourth highest mortality rate. A noteworthy characteristic of our country is the high prevalence of advanced-stage patients of approximately 40%. Advanced-stage gastric cancer carries an unfavorable prognosis with median survival of around one year. Diagnosis methods for advanced-stage gastric cancer (such as laparoscopic exploration, molecular profiling, and artificial intelligence) are still being continuously improved, while chemotherapy remains the primary treatment. With the rapid development of medical science, the role of surgical intervention in advanced-stage gastric cancer is becoming increasingly prominent. Therefore, as gastric tumor surgeons, we should consider how to use a combination of treatments, including surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and interventional therapy, based on different pathological stages and the heterogeneity of tumors. With a multidisciplinary approach involving experts from various fields, we can collectively improve the survival rate and quality of life for advanced-stage patients. This article provides a brief overview of the current advances in the diagnosis and treatment of advanced-stage gastric cancer, and discusses therapeutic decision primarily from the perspective of surgeons.
10.Biological characteristics of triple negative breast cancer with low expression of HER2
Jing LIAN ; Ruoqi LI ; Lei YAN ; Peng BU ; Huiwen WANG ; Yanfeng XI
Chinese Journal of Pathology 2024;53(9):898-904
Objective:To investigate the biological characteristics of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) with low expression of HER2 (HER2-low).Methods:A total of 93 TNBC cases in Shanxi Cancer Hospital from 2017 to 2019 were collected and divided into HER2-negative and HER2-low groups according to HER2 expression status. The clinicopathological features and prognostic differences between the two groups were retrospectively analyzed and compared, and genetic detection of tumor tissues was performed to clarify somatic mutation status and differences between the two groups.Results:Ninety-three patients aged 26 to 86 years were enrolled, including 60 patients in the HER2-negative group and 33 patients in the HER2-low group. The distribution of HER2-low in luminal androgen receptor (LAR) subtype (14/23, 60.87%) and non-LAR subtype (19/70, 27.14%) was significantly different ( P=0.005). There were no significant differences in age, pT stage, histological grade, infiltration mode, lymph node metastasis and survival analysis. The expression of HER2-low in the tumor was heterogeneous, including different proportions of weak, weak to moderate intensity, and incomplete to intact membrane staining. With the change of the proportion of HER2-positive cells, the different distribution of those cells in the total tumor cells was noted, including cluster, mosaic and scattered patterns. The concentration and quality of DNA extracted from 71 of the 93 samples met the requirements for making libraries, including 43 in the HER2-negative group and 28 in the HER2-low group. Genetic mutations were mainly missense mutations, single nucleotide mutations, and point mutations in which base C was replaced by base T. There was no significant difference in genes with mutation frequency>3 times between the two groups. CTNNB1 and FGFR3 genes were only mutated in HER2-low group; while ALK, CYP2D6 and FAT1 genes were only mutated in HER2-negative group. HER2-low group included 18 HER2 1+ cases and 10 HER2 2+ cases. Genes with mutation frequency>3 times between the two groups included PIK3CA, TP53, SLX4, ATM and BRCA1. The mutation frequency of PIK3CA in HER2 2+ was significantly higher than that in HER2 1+ group ( P<0.05), and SLX4 gene was only mutated in HER2 1+ group. Conclusions:There are some differences of histological morphology and genetic variation between HER2-negative group and HER2-low group, and also differences in genetic variation between HER2 1+ and HER2 2+ in HER2-low group, which are helpful for more accurate stratification of TNBC and useful for finding the therapeutic target and precise treatment of HER2-low TNBC.

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