ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of Yiqi Wenyang Huoxue Lishui components on the cardiac function and mitochondrial energy metabolism in the rat model of chronic heart failure （CHF） and explore the underlying mechanism. MethodsThe rat model of CHF was prepared by transverse aortic constriction （TAC）. Eight of the 50 SD rats were randomly selected as the sham group， and the remaining 42 underwent TAC surgery. The 24 SD rats successfully modeled were randomized into model， trimetazidine （6.3 mg·kg^-1）， and Yiqi Wenyang Huoxue Lishui components （60 mg·kg^-1 total saponins of Astragali Radix， 10 mg·kg^-1 total phenolic acids of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma， 190 mg·kg^-1 aqueous extract of Lepidii Semen， and 100 mg·kg^-1 cinnamaldehyde） groups. The rats were administrated with corresponding agents by gavage， and those in the sham and model groups were administrated with the same amount of normal saline at a dose of 10 mL·kg^-1 for 8 weeks. Echocardiography was used to examine the cardiac function in rats. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed to determine the serum levels of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide （NT-ProBNP）， hypersensitive troponin（cTnI）， creatine kinase （CK）， lactate dehydrogenase （LD）， free fatty acids （FFA）， superoxide dismutase （SOD）， and malondialdehyde （MDA）. The colorimetric assay was employed to measure the levels of adenosine triphosphate （ATP）， adenosine diphosphate （ADP）， and adenosine monophosphate （AMP） in the myocardial tissue. The pathological changes in the myocardial tissue were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining and Masson staining. The Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase and Ca²⁺-Mg²⁺-ATPase activities in the myocardial tissue were determined by the colorimetric assay. The ultrastructural changes of myocardial mitochondria were observed by transmission electron microscopy. Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of ATP synthase subunit delta （ATP5D）， glucose transporter 4 （GLUT4）， and carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 （CPT-1）. The mitochondrial complex assay kits were used to determine the activities of mitochondrial complexes Ⅰ， Ⅱ， Ⅲ， and Ⅳ. ResultsCompared with the sham group， the model group showed a loosening arrangement of cardiac fibers， fracture and necrosis of partial cardiac fibers， inflammatory cells in necrotic areas， massive blue fibrotic tissue in the myocardial interstitium， increased collagen fiber area and myocardial fibrosis， destroyed mitochondria， myofibril disarrangement， sparse myofilaments， and fractured and reduced cristae. In addition， the rats in the model group showed declined ejection fraction （EF） and fractional shortening （FS）， risen left ventricular end-diastolic diameter （LVIDd）， left ventricular end-systolic diameter （LVIDs）， left ventricular end-diastolic posterior wall thickness （LVPWd）， left ventricular end-systolic posterior wall thickness （LVPWs）， left ventricular end-diastolic volume （LVVOLd）， and left ventricular end-systolic volume （LVVOLs）， elevated levels of NT-ProBNP， cTnI， CK， MDA， FFA， and LD， lowered level of SOD， down-regulated protein levels of GLUT4 and CPT-1， decreased activities of Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase， Ca²⁺-Mg²⁺-ATPase， and respiratory complexes Ⅰ-Ⅳ， and declined levels of ATP5D， ATP， ADP， and AMP （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the Yiqi Wenyang Huoxue Lishui components and trimetazidine groups showed alleviated pathological damage of the mitochondria and mycardial tissue， risen EF and FS， declined LVIDd， LVIDs， LVPWd， LVPWs， LVVOLd， and LVVOLs， lowered levels of NT-ProBNP， cTnI， CK， MDA， FFA， and LD， elevated level of SOD， up-regulated protein levels of GLUT4 and CPT-1， increased activities of Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase， Ca²⁺-Mg²⁺-ATPase， and respiratory complexes Ⅰ-Ⅳ， and elevated levels of ATP5D， ATP， ADP， and AMP （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionYiqi Wenyang Huoxue Lishui components can improve the cardiac function， reduce myocardial injury， regulate glucose and lipid metabolism， optimize the utilization of substrates， and alleviate the damage of mitochondrial structure and function， thus improving the energy metabolism of the myocardium in the rat model of CHF.

ObjectiveTo explore the protective effect of Shengxiantang on cardiac function and myocardial microvascular injury in rats with chronic heart failure （CHF）. MethodsThe CHF rat model was prepared by aortic arch constriction （TAC）. Of the 72 SD rats， 8 were randomly selected as the sham operation group， where the chest was opened without ligating the aortic arch. The 40 successfully modeled rats were randomly divided into the model group， the Shengxiantang low-， medium-， and high-dose groups （5.1， 10.2， 20.4 g·kg^-1）， and the trimetazidine group （6.3 mg·kg^-1）， with 8 rats in each group. Drug administration began 4 weeks after modeling. The administration groups received the corresponding drugs by gavage， while the sham operation and model groups were given the same amount of distilled water for 8 consecutive weeks. Echocardiography was used to assess cardiac function. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to detect the levels of nitric oxide （NO）， endothelin （ET-1）， vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF）， and von Willebrand factor （vWF）. Ultrastructural changes of microvessels were observed by transmission electron microscopy. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression levels of ATP synthase subunit （ATP5D） and F-actin in myocardial tissue. Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of occludin， claudin， vascular endothelial cadherin （VE-Cadherin）， and zonula occludens-1 （ZO-1）. Microvessel density was measured by immunofluorescence staining. ResultsCompared with the sham operation group， the ejection fraction （EF） and left ventricular shortening fraction （FS） in the model group were significantly decreased （P<0.01）， while the left ventricular diastolic diameter （LVIDd）， left ventricular systolic diameter （LVIDs）， left ventricular end-diastolic posterior wall thickness （LVPWd）， left ventricular end-systolic posterior wall thickness （LVPWs）， left ventricular end-diastolic volume （LVVOLd）， and left ventricular end-systolic volume （LVVOLs） were significantly increased （P<0.01）. The levels of NO and VEGF were significantly decreased （P<0.01）， while the levels of ET-1 and vWF were significantly increased （P<0.01）. Under electron microscopy， the microvascular basement membrane was incomplete and the tight junctions were blurred. The expression levels of ATP5D， F-actin， occludin， claudin， ZO-1， and VE-Cadherin were significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the relative density of microvessels was significantly reduced （P<0.05， P<0.01）. After intervention with Shengxiantang， the EF and FS of CHF rats significantly increased （P<0.01）， while the LVIDd， LVIDs， LVPWd， LVPWs， LVVOLd， and LVVOLs significantly decreased （P<0.01）. The levels of NO and VEGF significantly increased （P<0.01）， while the levels of ET-1 and vWF significantly decreased （P<0.01）. Under electron microscopy， the microvascular basement membrane was relatively complete and the tight junctions were more continuous. The expression levels of ATP5D， F-actin， occludin， claudin， ZO-1， and VE-Cadherin significantly increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the relative density of microvessels significantly increased （P<0.01）. ConclusionShengxiantang can effectively improve the cardiac function of CHF rats， reduce microvascular endothelial injury， strengthen the connection between endothelial cells， and increase microvessel density， thereby protecting myocardial microvascular injury.

ObjectiveTo explore the protective effect of Shengxiantang on cardiac function and myocardial microvascular injury in rats with chronic heart failure （CHF）. MethodsThe CHF rat model was prepared by aortic arch constriction （TAC）. Of the 72 SD rats， 8 were randomly selected as the sham operation group， where the chest was opened without ligating the aortic arch. The 40 successfully modeled rats were randomly divided into the model group， the Shengxiantang low-， medium-， and high-dose groups （5.1， 10.2， 20.4 g·kg^-1）， and the trimetazidine group （6.3 mg·kg^-1）， with 8 rats in each group. Drug administration began 4 weeks after modeling. The administration groups received the corresponding drugs by gavage， while the sham operation and model groups were given the same amount of distilled water for 8 consecutive weeks. Echocardiography was used to assess cardiac function. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to detect the levels of nitric oxide （NO）， endothelin （ET-1）， vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF）， and von Willebrand factor （vWF）. Ultrastructural changes of microvessels were observed by transmission electron microscopy. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression levels of ATP synthase subunit （ATP5D） and F-actin in myocardial tissue. Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of occludin， claudin， vascular endothelial cadherin （VE-Cadherin）， and zonula occludens-1 （ZO-1）. Microvessel density was measured by immunofluorescence staining. ResultsCompared with the sham operation group， the ejection fraction （EF） and left ventricular shortening fraction （FS） in the model group were significantly decreased （P<0.01）， while the left ventricular diastolic diameter （LVIDd）， left ventricular systolic diameter （LVIDs）， left ventricular end-diastolic posterior wall thickness （LVPWd）， left ventricular end-systolic posterior wall thickness （LVPWs）， left ventricular end-diastolic volume （LVVOLd）， and left ventricular end-systolic volume （LVVOLs） were significantly increased （P<0.01）. The levels of NO and VEGF were significantly decreased （P<0.01）， while the levels of ET-1 and vWF were significantly increased （P<0.01）. Under electron microscopy， the microvascular basement membrane was incomplete and the tight junctions were blurred. The expression levels of ATP5D， F-actin， occludin， claudin， ZO-1， and VE-Cadherin were significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the relative density of microvessels was significantly reduced （P<0.05， P<0.01）. After intervention with Shengxiantang， the EF and FS of CHF rats significantly increased （P<0.01）， while the LVIDd， LVIDs， LVPWd， LVPWs， LVVOLd， and LVVOLs significantly decreased （P<0.01）. The levels of NO and VEGF significantly increased （P<0.01）， while the levels of ET-1 and vWF significantly decreased （P<0.01）. Under electron microscopy， the microvascular basement membrane was relatively complete and the tight junctions were more continuous. The expression levels of ATP5D， F-actin， occludin， claudin， ZO-1， and VE-Cadherin significantly increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the relative density of microvessels significantly increased （P<0.01）. ConclusionShengxiantang can effectively improve the cardiac function of CHF rats， reduce microvascular endothelial injury， strengthen the connection between endothelial cells， and increase microvessel density， thereby protecting myocardial microvascular injury.

ObjectiveTo investigate the impact of preoperative frailty on the prognosis of patients with pancreatic cancer who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy. MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 435 pancreatic cancer patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy at Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University. Preoperative frailty was assessed using the FRAIL questionnaire. Binary logistics regression analysis was employed to identify factors influencing frailty， and Cox regression analysis was used to evaluate the effect of frailty on survival. According to the demographic characteristics， subgroup analyses were performed on the effect of frailty on prognosis of patients with pancreatic cancer with pancreaticoduodenectomy. ResultsAmong the 435 patients enrolled， 119 （27.4%） exhibited frailty， while 316 （72.6%） did not. Significant differences were observed between the two groups in various clinical parameters， including age， body mass index， American Society of Anesthesiologists （ASA） score， postoperative red blood cell transfusion， postoperative abdominal abscess， serum levels of glycoantigens 199， glycoantigens 125， and alpha fetoprotein， leukocyte count， neutrophil， high density lipoprotein （HDL） level， and pain intensity （P＜0.05）. Advanced age and an ASA score of Ⅲ were identified as risk factors for frailty， whereas HDL level was a protective factor. Non-frail patients had better postoperative survival times than frail patients. HDL was determined to be an independent protective factor for prognosis， while LDL was an independent risk factor. ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that preoperative frailty is a significant predictor of poor prognosis in pancreatic cancer patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy.These findings suggest that preoperative frailty assessment and targeted interventions to improve nutritional and metabolic status could potentially enhance postoperative survival and quality of life in pancreatic cancer patients.

Medical institutions, with their clinical practice foundation and abundant human use experience data, have become important carriers for the inheritance and innovation of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) and the "cradles" of the preparation of new TCM. To effectively promote the transformation of new TCM originating from the TCM clinical practice in medical institutions and establish an effective evaluation index system for the transformation of new TCM conforming to the characteristics of TCM, consensus experts adopted the literature research, questionnaire survey, Delphi method, etc. By focusing on the policy and technical evaluation of new TCM originating from the TCM clinical practice in medical institutions, a comprehensive evaluation from the dimensions of drug safety, efficacy, feasibility, and characteristic advantages was conducted, thus forming a comprehensive evaluation system with four primary indicators and 37 secondary indicators. The expert consensus reached aims to encourage medical institutions at all levels to continuously improve the high-quality research and development and transformation of new TCM originating from the TCM clinical practice in medical institutions and targeted at clinical needs, so as to provide a decision-making basis for the preparation, selection, cultivation, and transformation of new TCM for medical institutions, improve the development efficiency of new TCM, and precisely respond to the public medication needs.
Medicine, Chinese Traditional/standards* ; Humans ; Consensus ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of TBL1XR1 mutation on cell biological characteristics of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). METHODS: The TBL1XR1 overexpression vector was constructed and DNA sequencing was performed to determine the mutation status. The effect of TBL1XR1 mutation on apoptosis of DLBCL cell line was detected by flow cytometry and TUNEL fluorescence assay; CCK-8 assay was used to detect the effect of TBL1XR1 mutation on cell proliferation; Transwell assay was used to detect the effect of TBL1XR1 mutation on cell migration and invasion; Western blot was used to detect the effect of TBL1XR1 mutation on the expression level of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) related proteins. RESULTS: The TBL1XR1 overexpression plasmid was successfully constructed. The in vitro experimental results showed that TBL1XR1 mutation had no significant effect on apoptosis of DLBCL cells. Compared with the control group, TBL1XR1 mutation enhanced cell proliferation, migration and invasion of DLBCL cells. TBL1XR1 gene mutation significantly increased the expression of N-cadherin protein, while the expression of E-cadherin protein decreased. CONCLUSION TBL1XR1 mutation plays a role in promoting tumor cell proliferation, migration and invasion in DLBCL. TBL1XR1 could be considered as a potential target for DLBCL therapy in future research.
Humans ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/pathology* ; Cell Proliferation ; Mutation ; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear/genetics* ; Apoptosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Cell Movement ; Repressor Proteins/genetics* ; Nuclear Proteins/genetics* ; Cadherins/metabolism*

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the effect of Huanglian-Renshen-Decoction (HRD) on ameliorating type 2 diabetes mellitus by maintaining islet β -cell identity through regulating paracrine and endocrine glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)/GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) in both islet and intestine. METHODS: The db/db mice were divided into the model (distilled water), low-dose HRD (LHRD, 3 g/kg), high-dose HRD (HHRD, 6 g/kg), and liraglutide (400 µ g/kg) groups using a random number table, 8 mice in each group. The db/m mice were used as the control group (n=8, distilled water). The entire treatment of mice lasted for 6 weeks. Blood insulin, glucose, and GLP-1 levels were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. The proliferation and apoptosis factors of islet cells were determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and immunofluorescence (IF) staining. Then, GLP-1, GLP-1R, prohormone convertase 1/3 (PC1/3), PC2, v-maf musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma oncogene homologue A (MafA), and pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 (PDX1) were detected by Western blot, IHC, IF, and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, respectively. RESULTS: HRD reduced the weight and blood glucose of the db/db mice, and improved insulin sensitivity at the same time (P<0.05 or P<0.01). HRD also promoted mice to secrete more insulin and less glucagon (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Moreover, it also increased the number of islet β cell and decreased islet α cell mass (P<0.01). After HRD treatment, the levels of GLP-1, GLP-1R, PC1/3, PC2, MafA, and PDX1 in the pancreas and intestine significantly increased (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSION HRD can maintain the normal function and identity of islet β cell, and the underlying mechanism is related to promoting the paracrine and endocrine activation of GLP-1 in pancreas and intestine.
Animals ; Glucagon-Like Peptide 1/metabolism* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/metabolism* ; Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor/metabolism* ; Insulin-Secreting Cells/pathology* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Male ; Blood Glucose/metabolism* ; Insulin/blood* ; Mice ; Intestinal Mucosa/pathology* ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects* ; Islets of Langerhans/pathology*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of Yangxue Qingnao Pills (YXQNP) combined with amlodipine in treating patients with grade 1 hypertension. METHODS: This is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled study. Adult patients with grade 1 hypertension of blood deficiency and Gan (Liver)-yang hyperactivity syndrome were randomly divided into the treatment or the control groups at a 1:1 ratio. The treatment group received YXQNP and amlodipine besylate, while the control group received YXQNP's placebo and amlodipine besylate. The treatment duration lasted for 180 days. Outcomes assessed included changes in blood pressure, Chinese medicine (CM) syndrome scores, symptoms and target organ functions before and after treatment in both groups. Additionally, adverse events, such as nausea, vomiting, rash, itching, and diarrhea, were recorded in both groups. RESULTS: A total of 662 subjects were enrolled, of whom 608 (91.8%) completed the trial (306 in the treatment and 302 in the control groups). After 180 days of treatment, the standard deviations and coefficients of variation of systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels were lower in the treatment group compared with the control group. The improvement rates of dizziness, headache, insomnia, and waist soreness were significantly higher in the treatment group compared with the control group (P<0.05). After 30 days of treatment, the overall therapeutic effects on CM clinical syndromes were significantly increased in the treatment group as compared with the control group (P<0.05). After 180 days of treatment, brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity, ankle brachial index and albumin-to-creatinine ratio were improved in both groups, with no statistically significant differences (P>0.05). No serious treatment-related adverse events occurred during the study period. CONCLUSIONS Combination therapy of YXQNP with amlodipine significantly improved symptoms such as dizziness and headache, reduced blood pressure variability, and showed a trend toward lowering urinary microalbumin in hypertensive patients. These findings suggest that this regimen has good clinical efficacy and safety. (Registration No. ChiCTR1900022470).
Humans ; Amlodipine/adverse effects* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/adverse effects* ; Male ; Female ; Hypertension/complications* ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Adult ; Blood Pressure/drug effects* ; Double-Blind Method ; Aged ; Antihypertensive Agents/adverse effects*

OBJECTIVE: To identify the underlying molecular mechanism of Modified Hu-Lu-Ba-Wan (MHW) in alleviating renal lesions in mice with diabetic kidney disease (DKD). METHODS: The db/db mice were divided into model group and MHW group according to a random number table, while db/m mice were settled as the control group (n=8 per group). The control and model groups were gavaged daily with distilled water [10 mL/(kg·d)], and the MHW group was treated with MHW [17.8 g/(kg·d)] for 6 weeks. After MHW administration for 6 weeks, indicators associated with glucolipid metabolism and urinary albumin were tested. Podocytes were observed by transmission electron microscopy. Kidney transcriptomics was performed after confirming therapeutic effects of MHW on DKD mice. The relevant target of MHW' effect in DKD was further determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Western blot analysis, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS: Compared with the model group, MHW improved glucose and lipid metabolism (P<0.05), and reduced lipid deposition in the kidney. Meanwhile, MHW reduced the excretion of urinary albumin (P<0.05) and ameliorated renal damage. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that the inflammation response, particularly the interleukin-17 (IL-17) signaling pathway, may be responsible for the effect of MHW on DKD. Furtherly, our results found that MHW inhibited IL-17A and alleviated early fibrosis in the diabetic kidney. CONCLUSION MHW ameliorated renal damage in DKD via inhibiting IL-17A, suggesting a potential strategy for DKD therapy.
Animals ; Diabetic Nephropathies/genetics* ; Interleukin-17/antagonists & inhibitors* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Male ; Kidney/ultrastructure* ; Podocytes/metabolism* ; Mice ; Albuminuria ; Lipid Metabolism/drug effects* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL

Glutamine provides carbon and nitrogen to support the proliferation of cancer cells. However, the precise reason why cancer cells are particularly dependent on glutamine remains unclear. In this study, we report that glutamine modulates the tumor suppressor F-box and WD repeat domain-containing 7 (FBW7) to promote cancer cell proliferation and survival. Specifically, lysine 604 (K604) in the sixth of the 7 substrate-recruiting WD repeats of FBW7 undergoes glutaminylation (Gln-K604) by glutaminyl tRNA synthetase. Gln-K604 inhibits SCFFBW7-mediated degradation of c-Myc and Mcl-1, enhances glutamine utilization, and stimulates nucleotide and DNA biosynthesis through the activation of c-Myc. Additionally, Gln-K604 promotes resistance to apoptosis by activating Mcl-1. In contrast, SIRT1 deglutaminylates Gln-K604, thereby reversing its effects. Cancer cells lacking Gln-K604 exhibit overexpression of c-Myc and Mcl-1 and display resistance to chemotherapy-induced apoptosis. Silencing both c-MYC and MCL-1 in these cells sensitizes them to chemotherapy. These findings indicate that the glutamine-mediated signal via Gln-K604 is a key driver of cancer progression and suggest potential strategies for targeted cancer therapies based on varying Gln-K604 status.
Glutamine/metabolism* ; Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein/genetics* ; Humans ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc/genetics* ; Cell Proliferation ; Signal Transduction ; Neoplasms/pathology* ; F-Box-WD Repeat-Containing Protein 7/genetics* ; Cell Survival ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Apoptosis