ObjectiveTo study the mechanism of Huanglian Jiedutang （HLJDT） in treating mice with atherosclerosis （AS） by improving ferroptosis. MethodsA total of 10 SPF C57BL/6J mice were selected as a normal group， and 50 ApoE^-/- mice were randomly divided into five groups： model group， low-dose group of HLJDT， medium-dose group of HLJDT， high-dose group of HLJDT， and atorvastatin （ATV） group. ApoE^-/- mice were fed a high-fat diet for eight weeks to establish the AS model， and at the 9th week， they were given normal saline， low， medium， and high doses of HLJDT （3.9， 7.8， 15.6 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， and atorvastatin calcium tablets （0.01 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， respectively， for a total of eight weeks. The formation of aortic plaque in mice was observed by gross oil red O staining and Masson staining. The levels of total cholesterol （TC）， low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C）， triglyceride （TG）， and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL-C） in blood fat were measured by the automatic biochemical analyzer， and the mitochondrial structure of the aorta was observed by transmission electron microscopy. The content of serum superoxide dismutase （SOD） in serum was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The content of reduced glutathione （GSH） in serum was detected by the microplate method， and that of malondialdehyde （MDA） in serum was detected by the TBA method. The protein expression of nuclear factor E₂-associated factor 2 （Nrf2）/glutathione peroxidase 4 （GPX4） signaling pathway was detected by Western blot. ResultsCompared with those of the normal group， the contents of TC， LDL-C， TG， HDL-C， and MDA in the serum and the aortic vascular plaque deposition of the model group were significantly increased （P<0.01）， while the expression levels of SOD and GSH in serum， as well as Nrf2， solute carrier family 7 member 11 （SLC7A11）， and GPX4 in aorta were significantly decreased （P<0.01）. Mice in the model group appeared mitochondrial fragmentation and vacuolation in the aorta， volume atrophy， mitochondrial crista reduction， or a loose and disorganized form. Compared with those in the model group， the aortic vascular plaque deposition was significantly decreased in the low-dose， medium-dose， and high-dose groups of HLJDT and ATV group， and the contents of serum TC， LDL-C， TG， and MDA in serum were significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The contents of serum SOD and GSH and the expression levels of Nrf2， SLC7A11， and GPX4 in the aorta were increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the symptoms of aortic mitochondrial vacuolation were alleviated. The number of cristae was increased， and they were ordered neatly. ConclusionHLJDT can reduce aortic vascular plaque deposition， decrease blood lipid and MDA expression， increase SOD and GSH expression， and ameliorate the pathological changes of ferroptosis， the mechanism of which is related to the Nrf2/GPX4 signaling pathway.

Under the guidance of five-viscus correlation theory,and with reference to the clinical practice,this paper discusses the pathogenesis of cardiogenic asthma,i.e.long illness of the heart resulting in asthma,from the perspective of physiological characteristics of heart,which belongs to yin in essence and yang in function.And this paper also introduces the correlation between five zang-organs and cardiogenic asthma:asthma induced by heart failure involves the lung,has close relation with middle energizer(spleen and stomach),results from the comorbidity of heart and liver,and contributes to the disorders of kidney.It is believed that cardiogenic asthma injures the heart,results in internal blockage of blood stasis,so the original pathogenesis of cardiogenic asthma is due to the heart;unsmoothed blood circulation causes fluid retention in the chest and lung,and then the lung is involved.The failure of spleen and stomach in generation and transportation will cause the unsmoothed circulation of qi and blood,liver qi stagnation will result in the failure of liver blood in nourishment,and the intense kidney yin-fire will stir upward and attack heart yang.The factors mentioned above all are prone to result in the aggravation of cardiogenic asthma.Therefore,the treatment of cardiogenic asthma with traditional Chinese medicine should be focused on heart,and methods of replenishing qi,activating blood circulation,and inducing diuresis are used as the primary therapeutic approaches.Moreover,according to the organs involved in cardiogenic asthma,therapies of regulating the five viscera and restoring the balance of yin and yang are used for precise treatment,and the therapeutic effect will be enhanced.

Objective To analyze the circuit-qi patterns during early embryonic period and at conception in congenital heart disease(CHD)patients based on the five-circuit and six-qi theory,and to explore the pathogenesis and etiology of CHD from a circuit-qi perspective.Methods With 16 400 non-CHD individuals as the healthy control group,a statistical analysis was performed for the circuit-qi patterns during early embryogenesis and at conception in 4 100 CHD patients(CHD group).Results The following factors were identified as significant predisposing factors for CHD:yearly circuit being excessive fire circuit during early embryogenesis,yearly qi being taiyang cold water of celestial qi combined with taiyin damp earth of terrestrial qi during early embryogenesis,yearly circuit being concurrent excessive fire circuit and earth circuit deficiency at conception,and yearly qi being taiyin damp earth of terrestrial qi paired with jueyin wind wood of celestial qi at conception(all P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).Conclusion There is a certain correlation between circuit-qi endowment during embryonic development and the prevalence of CHD.The core pathogenesis of CHD is rooted in heart-spleen insufficiency,with hyperactive heart-fire and cold kidney-water as its manifestations,and spleen deficiency failing in transportation serves as an important contributing factor in the development and progression of CHD.

Left atrial appendage closure(LAAC)is an important intervention method for preventing thromboembolic events in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation(NVAF).However,incomplete endothelialization following the procedure can impact its long-term efficacy and safety.This article proposes the view of qi flourishment promoting tissue regeneration based on the traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)theory of qi and blood,and explores diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for post-LAAC incomplete endothelialization by examining the theoretical connotation of qi flourishment promoting tissue regeneration and the relationship between qi and vascular endothelial cells.It is proposed that the primary pathogenesis in patients after LAAC is due to qi deficiency.Guided by the view of qi flourishment promoting tissue regeneration,therapeutic approaches such as tonifying qi to promote granulation,supplementing qi to activate blood circulation,and harmonizing the viscera can be employed to address incomplete endothelialization in NVAF patients following LAAC.Clinically,the qi-supplementing and blood-activating classic formula Neituo Shengji San,mainly composed of Astragali Radix,Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma,Olibanum,Myrrha,Paeoniae Radix Alb,Trichosanthis Radix,Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma,etc.,is usually utilized for modified use.Depending on the specific symptom patterns or pathogenesis characteristics of patients with incomplete endothelialization,this basic formula may be used by combining with Shengmai San or augmented with qi-supplementing and blood-activating herbs such as Chuanxiong Rhizoma,Fici Simplicissimae Radix,and Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma to promote endothelialization.Diagnosing and treating post-LAAC incomplete endothelialization in NVAF patients following the view of qi flourishment promoting tissue regeneration,it is expected to offer a novel TCM perspective and therapeutic strategy to enhance post-LAAC outcomes and address the challenge of incomplete endothelialization.This approach can further serve as a reference for TCM clinicians to manage endothelialization issues following implantation procedures.

Objective To study the mechanism of different forms of ST-segment elevation in acute myocardial infarction(AMI),and to investigate the distribution of its traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)syndrome types.Methods Two hundred and twelve hospitalized AMI patients with ST-segment elevation from March of 2015 to July of 2017 were divided into group A and group B.Group A had 102 cases with the elevation of concavity of STsegment,and group B had 110 cases with the elevation of arch of ST-segment.The correlation of ST-segment elevation in different forms with TCM syndrome types was analyzed.Results (1) Patients of group B were usually male,young and middle-aged,with or without short-term medical history of coronary heart disease,and coronary angiography results indicated the stenosis or occlusion of the vessels without collateral circulation.Patients in group A were usually female,aged,with medical history of coronary heart disease,and coronary angiography results indicated the existence of collateral circulation.(2) Group A was dominated by Qi-deficiency and blood-stasis syndrome,and the frequency of its syndrome types was in decreasing sequence:Qi-deficiency and blood-stasis syndrome,Qi-yin deficiency syndrome,heat-toxicity and blood-stasis syndrome,phlegm blended with bloodstasis syndrome,syndrome of cold stagnation in heart vessels.Group B was dominated by heat-toxicity and bloodstasis syndrome,and the frequency of its syndrome types was in decreasing sequence:heat-toxicity and bloodstasis syndrome,Qi-deficiency and blood-stasis syndrome,Qi-yin deficiency syndrome,syndrome of cold stagnation in heart vessels,phlegm blended with blood-stasis syndrome.The difference of the distribution of syndrome types was significant between the two groups (P ＜ 0.01).(3) In respect of the differentiation of deficiency and excess syndromes,group A was dominated by deficiency interweaved with excess syndrome,while group B was dominated by excess syndrome.The difference of the distribution of deficiency and excess syndrome was significant between the two groups (P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion AMI patients with different forms of ST-segment elevation have different TCM syndrome types.The investigation results will provide a new vision for the clinical trial of AMI treated with Chinese medicine integrated with western medicine,and will supply evidence for the syndrome differentiation and treatment of AMI patients with different forms of ST-segment elevation,which will contribute to enhancing clinical efficacy,saving life and improving prognosis.