1.Meta-analysis and Grade Evidence Evaluation of Qi-reinforcing and Blood-activating/ Stasis-expelling Chinese Patent Medicines in Treatment of Coronary Microvascular Disease
Jiaping CHEN ; Juju SHANG ; Hongxu LIU ; Xiang LI ; Xiaolei LAI ; Huiwen ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(5):157-166
ObjectiveTo systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of Qi-reinforcing and blood-activating/stasis-expelling Chinese patent medicines in the treatment of coronary microvascular disease (CMD). MethodsPubMed, Cochrane Library, CNKI, Wanfang Data, and VIP were searched for the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the treatment of CMD with Chinese patent medicines for reinforcing Qi and activating blood/expelling stasis with the time interval from inception to December 31, 2023. The primary outcome indicators included the index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR), coronary flow reserve (CFR), and corrected TIMI flow frame count (cTFC). The secondary outcome indicators included symptomatic efficacy, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), nitric oxide (NO), and adverse events. Cochrane risk-of-bias assessment tool 2.0 (RoB 2.0) and Stata 17.0 were used for literature quality evaluation and meta-analysis of the included RCTs. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) was used to evaluate the quality of evidence. ResultsA total of 36 RCTs were included in this study, involving 3 029 patients. Compared with conventional Western medicine alone, the combined use of Chinese patent medicines for reinforcing Qi and activating blood/expelling stasis and Western medicine reduced the IMR [mean difference (MD)=-5.93, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) [-8.73,-3.14], n=382, P<0.01], cTFC (MD=-9.35, 95%CI [-13.94,-4.76], n=618, P<0.01), and hs-CRP [standard mean difference (SMD)=-1.50, 95%CI [-1.90,-1.11], n=1 483, P<0.01], improved the CFR (SMD=1.14, 95%CI [0.08,2.19], n=304, P=0.03), symptomatic efficacy [relative risk (RR)=1.36, 95%CI [1.21,1.53], n=756, P<0.01], LVEF (MD=4.39, 95%CI [2.31,6.47], n=533, P<0.01), and NO (SMD=3.16, 95%CI [2.07,4.25], n=946, P<0.01) of CMD patients. In terms of safety, the combined therapy reduced the occurrence of adverse events in CMD patients (RR=0.49, 95%CI [0.29,0.82], n=591, P=0.01). GRADE showed moderate quality evidence for adverse events, low quality evidence for cTFC, symptomatic efficacy, LVEF, and NO, and very low quality evidence for IMR, CFR, and hs-CRP. ConclusionBased on microcirculatory function indicators, the combined use of Qi-reinforcing and blood-activating/stasis-expelling Chinese patent medicines and Western medicine may further improve the coronary microvascular function in CMD patients with good safety. The above conclusions remain to be verified with high-quality clinical trials.
2.Platelet-rich plasma injection combined with warm acupuncture and moxibustion for treating patients with knee osteoarthritis and cold dampness obstruction syndrome
Xiang SHANG ; Fei WANG ; Qiqi YANG ; Tianxin JIANG ; Fen ZHANG ; Sanbing WU ; Yonghui YANG ; Fei LI
Journal of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;48(2):270-279
Objective:
To determine the clinical efficacy of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection combined with warm acupuncture and moxibustion for treating patients with knee osteoarthritis and cold dampness obstruction syndrome.
Methods:
One hundred and twenty-eight patients with knee osteoarthritis and cold dampness obstruction syndrome who visited the Rehabilitation Department and Orthopedics Department of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine from January 2023 to March 2024 and who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were randomly divided into an experimental (n=64) and control group (n=64) using the random number table method. The experimental group was treated with PRP injection combined with warm acupuncture and moxibustion, whereas the control group was treated with normal saline injection combined with warm acupuncture and moxibustion treatment. PRP and normal saline injections were administered once every two weeks, a total of four times. Patients were treated with warm acupuncture and moxibustion once a day, six times a week, for four consecutive weeks. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) syndrome, visual analog scale (VAS), and Lysholm scores were determined before treatment, at week 4 and week 8 of treatment, and week 16 of follow-up. Serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), osteoprotegerin (OPG), bone gla protein(BGP), and cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) levels were compared between the two groups before and after 8 weeks of treatment. The clinical efficacy and safety indicators between the two groups were also compared.
Results:
There was no statistical difference in baseline data such as gender, age, disease duration, and body mass index between the two groups of patients. Compared with before treatment, both groups showed decreased WOMAC total and subscale, TCM syndrome total score and symptom scores, and VAS scores, and an increase in Lysholm scores at 4, 8, and 16 weeks after treatment. After treatment, serum IL-6, MMP-3, TNF-α, and COMP levels decreased, whereas serum OPG and BGP levels increased (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, patients in the experimental group showed decreased WOMAC total and subscale, TCM syndrome total score and symptom scores, and VAS scores, and an increase in Lysholm score at 4, 8, and 16 weeks after treatment. Compared with the control group, patients in the experimental group showed decreased serum IL-6, MMP-3, TNF-α, and COMP levels and an increase in serum OPG and BPG levels after treatment (P<0.05). The total effective rate of the experimental group was 91.94%, higher than that of the control group (81.97%; P<0.05).
Conclusion
PRP injection combined with warm acupuncture and moxibustion can improve various TCM symptoms, improve knee joint function and bone metabolism, and reduce inflammation in patients with knee osteoarthritis and cold dampness obstruction syndrome.
3.The Role of AMPK in Diabetic Cardiomyopathy and Related Intervention Strategies
Fang-Lian LIAO ; Xiao-Feng CHEN ; Han-Yi XIANG ; Zhi XIA ; Hua-Yu SHANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(10):2550-2567
Diabetic cardiomyopathy is a distinct form of cardiomyopathy that can lead to heart failure, arrhythmias, cardiogenic shock, and sudden death. It has become a major cause of mortality in diabetic patients. The pathogenesis of diabetic cardiomyopathy is complex, involving increased oxidative stress, activation of inflammatory responses, disturbances in glucose and lipid metabolism, accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), abnormal autophagy and apoptosis, insulin resistance, and impaired intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis. Recent studies have shown that adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) plays a crucial protective role by lowering blood glucose levels, promoting lipolysis, inhibiting lipid synthesis, and exerting antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and anti-ferroptotic effects. It also enhances autophagy, thereby alleviating myocardial injury under hyperglycemic conditions. Consequently, AMPK is considered a key protective factor in diabetic cardiomyopathy. As part of diabetes prevention and treatment strategies, both pharmacological and exercise interventions have been shown to mitigate diabetic cardiomyopathy by modulating the AMPK signaling pathway. However, the precise regulatory mechanisms, optimal intervention strategies, and clinical translation require further investigation. This review summarizes the role of AMPK in the prevention and treatment of diabetic cardiomyopathy through drug and/or exercise interventions, aiming to provide a reference for the development and application of AMPK-targeted therapies. First, several classical AMPK activators (e.g., AICAR, A-769662, O-304, and metformin) have been shown to enhance autophagy and glucose uptake while inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammatory responses by increasing the phosphorylation of AMPK and its downstream target, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and/or by upregulating the gene expression of glucose transporters GLUT1 and GLUT4. Second, many antidiabetic agents (e.g., teneligliptin, liraglutide, exenatide, semaglutide, canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, and empagliflozin) can promote autophagy, reverse excessive apoptosis and autophagy, and alleviate oxidative stress and inflammation by enhancing AMPK phosphorylation and its downstream targets, such as mTOR, or by increasing the expression of silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor‑α (PPAR‑α). Third, certain anti-anginal (e.g., trimetazidine, nicorandil), anti-asthmatic (e.g., farrerol), antibacterial (e.g., sodium houttuyfonate), and antibiotic (e.g., minocycline) agents have been shown to promote autophagy/mitophagy, mitochondrial biogenesis, and inhibit oxidative stress and lipid accumulation via AMPK phosphorylation and its downstream targets such as protein kinase B (PKB/AKT) and/or PPAR‑α. Fourth, natural compounds (e.g., dihydromyricetin, quercetin, resveratrol, berberine, platycodin D, asiaticoside, cinnamaldehyde, and icariin) can upregulate AMPK phosphorylation and downstream targets such as AKT, mTOR, and/or the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), thereby exerting anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, anti-pyroptotic, antioxidant, and pro-autophagic effects. Fifth, moderate exercise (e.g., continuous or intermittent aerobic exercise, aerobic combined with resistance training, or high-intensity interval training) can activate AMPK and its downstream targets (e.g., acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), GLUT4, PPARγ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α), PPAR-α, and forkhead box protein O3 (FOXO3)) to promote fatty acid oxidation and glucose uptake, and to inhibit oxidative stress and excessive mitochondrial fission. Finally, the combination of liraglutide and aerobic interval training has been shown to activate the AMPK/FOXO1 pathway, thereby reducing excessive myocardial fatty acid uptake and oxidation. This combination therapy offers superior improvement in cardiac dysfunction, myocardial hypertrophy, and fibrosis in diabetic conditions compared to liraglutide or exercise alone.
4.Prediction method of diopter based on sequence of ocular biological parameters
Luebiao XU ; Lan DING ; Chen LIANG ; Yuliang WANG ; Yujia LIU ; Jianmin SHANG ; Jun ZHU ; Huazhong XIANG ; Renyuan CHU ; Cheng WANG ; Xiaomei QU
International Journal of Biomedical Engineering 2024;47(5):417-422
Objective:To establish a prediction method of diopter based on sequence of ocular biological parameters.Methods:A stratified random cluster sampling method was used to extract the dataset. The dataset consisted of data collected from January 2022 to January 2023 by the Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, from children aged 5 to 13 years in 2 key schools and 2 general schools of Yangpu District, Shanghai. Children’s ocular biological parameters, including sex, age, diopter, axial length, corneal curvature, and anterior chamber depth were collected. The slope of the optimally fitted straight line was calculated using the least squares method. The least square-back propagation (BP) neural network model was established by combining baseline data and the pre-processed rate of the change of ocular biological parameters. The dataset was divided into the training set and the validation set according to the ratio of 8:2 for five-fold cross-validation. The model performance was evaluated by using the mean absolute error (MAE), mean squared error (MSE), root mean square error (RMSE), correlation coefficient R, and coefficient of determination R2. Results:The optimal performances of R2, R, RMSE, MAE, and MSE of the least square-BP neural network model were 0.96, 0.981 9, 0.214 2, 0.139 9 D, 0.045 9, respectively. The regression equation between the predicted value and the true value of the diopter was y=0.97 x+ 0.014 8, R2=0.97, with good correlation. In the internal verification, MAE values of the diopter at three, six, nine, and twelve months of follow-up were 0.110 1, 0.136 0, 0.153 7, and 0.184 8 D, respectively, which achieved clinically acceptable performance (less than 0.25 D). In the external validation, the errors were less than 0.25 D at all ages. Conclusions:A prediction method of diopter based on sequence of ocular biological parameters was successfully developed.
5.Research progress on the effect of diacerein in the regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism
Ying-Ying XIANG ; Ruo-Nan ZHOU ; Wen-Bin SHANG
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2024;40(5):811-816
Diacerein(DCN),an interleukin-1β(IL-1β)inhib-itor,has been clinically used for osteoarthritis.Chronic inflam-mation is considered as a causal factor of metabolic disorders,such as obesity and type 2 diabetes.Anti-inflammation therapy has emerged as an important strategy for improving the dysregu-lation of glucose and lipid metabolism.A series of domestic and international studies have shown that DCN regulates the disorders of glucose and lipid,which implies its potential application for the treatment of metabolic diseases.This paper summarized the effects and mechanisms of DCN on regulating glucose homeosta-sis and lipid metabolism.The mechanisms might involve the im-munomodulatory and anti-inflammatory action,the effect of anti-oxidative stress,the modulation of adipokine secretion,the regu-lation of programmed cell death,and the enhancement of insulin signaling transduction.These findings provide perspective for further development and application of DCN.
6.Clinical Analysis of CD4+CD8-T-Cell Large Granular Lymphocytic Leukemia
Xiang-Xiang CHANG ; Shang-Biao SUN ; Yu-Wen LI ; Miao WANG ; Yan-Qing ZHU
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2024;32(5):1388-1393
Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics and treatment of patients with CD4+CD8-T-cell large granular lymphocytic leukemia(T-LGLL).Methods:The clinical manifestations,diagnosis and treatment of 1 case of CD4+CD8-T-LGLL patient were reported,and relevant literatures were reviewed.Results:The patient was a 70-year-old woman with slow clinical progress,mainly manifested by thrombocytopenia and myelodysplasia.The blood smear was mainly composed of large granular lymphocytes.Immunotyping and T-cell receptor gene rearrangement analysis showed that it was in line with T-LGLL.Partial remission(PR)was achieved through the treatment of cyclophosphamide(50 mg/d)combined with prednisone(gradually reduced and stopped later).Conclusion:CD4+CD8-T-LGLL is very rare in clinical practice,and its clinical manifestations are different from those of CD4-CD8+T-LGLL.
7.Mitochondrial damage and male reproductive dysfunction:Progress in research
Jin-Dong LI ; Zhen-Xiang LIU ; Xue-Jun SHANG
National Journal of Andrology 2024;30(8):744-749
Mitochondria are the center of sperm metabolism and essential for all aspects of flagellar motility,capacitation,acro-some reaction and gametic fusion of sperm.Abnormalities in the mitochondrial ultrastructure,membrane potential,reactive oxygen spe-cies,Ca2+homoeostasis,sperm apoptosis,mitochondrial DNA,mitochondrial enzymes and proteomic activity can decrease sperm quality and even cause male infertility.This paper elucidates the impact of mitochondrial dysfunction on sperm by reviewing and analy-zing relevant literature on mitochondria and male reproductive function,aiming to provide some theoretical evidence for exploring effec-tive interventions for male reproductive dysfunction.
8.Extraperitoneal robot-assisted laparoscopic modified Y-V plasty for the treatment of refractory bladder neck contracture
Jin-Dong LI ; Chong ZHANG ; Cai LÜ ; Zhen-Xiang LIU ; Zhi-Ming BAI ; Xue-Jun SHANG
National Journal of Andrology 2024;30(9):798-802
Objective:To investigate the clinical effect of extraperitoneal robot-assisted laparoscopic modified Y-V plasty(LMYVP)in the treatment of refractory bladder neck contracture(BNC).Methods:We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data on 10 cases of refractory BNC after transurethral resection of the prostate between September 2020 and January 2023,all with a history of recurrent urethral dilatation and at least two failures in transurethral surgical treatment of scarring.After definite diagnosis and re-moval of some of the scar tissues to flatten the elevated bladder neck under the cystoscope,we performed robot-assisted LMYVP using the da Vinci Si robotic system and a four-port extraperitoneal approach.The surgical procedure involved an inverted T-shaped incision in the bladder neck and urethral stricture ring,an inverted V-shaped excision of the scar area at the 3-9 o'clock position on the ventral side of the prostatic urethra,continuous full-layer suturing of the bladder neck and inverted V-shaped urethra with 3-0 barbed thread,and indwelling of an F20 silicone catheter for 2 weeks.At 3 months after surgery,we performed cystoscopic examination,measured the maximum urinary flow rate(Qmax),and obtained the IPSS and quality of life(QOL)scores of the patients.Results:Operations were successfully completed in all the cases.At 3 months after surgery,the patients showed significantly increased Qmax([3.65±1.27]vs[20.3±1.77]ml/s,P<0.05),IPSS(5.9±2.02 vs 30±1.15,P<0.05)and QOL score(1.3±0.95 vs 5.2±0.79,P<0.05)compared with the baseline.Cystoscopy revealed a wide and flat bladder neck with good survival and hemody-namics of the bladder flap.All the patients met the criteria for clinical cure at a median follow-up of 13.2 months.Conclusion:Extraper-itoneal robot-assisted LMYVP provides a new strategy for urinary tract reconstruction in the management of refractory BNC,with the ad-vantages of minimal invasiveness,high efficiency and high success rate.
9.Relationship of GSTP1 and XRCC1 gene polymorphisms with chemotherapy sensitivity and prognosis of prostate cancer
Song XUE ; Xiang ZHANG ; Xin PAN ; Xiao-Ming YI ; Xue-Jun SHANG
National Journal of Andrology 2024;30(9):803-808
Objective:To explore the relationship of glutathione S-transferase P1(GSTP1)and X-ray repair cross-complemen-tation group 1(XRCC1)gene polymorphisms with chemotherapy sensitivity and prognosis in patients with prostate cancer(PCa).Methods:A total of 103 PCa patients underwent androgen-deprivation therapy+double-agent chemotherapy from May 2018 to May 2021.We collected the clinical data from the patients,determined their genotypes using the PCR-PFLP method,analyzed the associa-tion of the locus polymorphisms of GSTP1-rs1695 and XRCC1-rs25487 with chemotherapy sensitivity,and investigated the correlation of GSTP1 and XRCC1 gene polymorphisms with the 3-year survival rate of the patients.Results:The distribution of GSTP1-rs1695 and XRCC1-rs25487 loci in the 103 PCa patients receiving chemotherapy was consistent with the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium(x2=9.794,P>0.05).At the GSTP1-rs1695 locus,the AA genotype accounted for 65.05%(67/103),the AG genotype 23.30%(24/103)and the GG genotype 11.65%(12/103);at the XRCC1-rs25487 locus,the A A genotype accounted for 29.13%(30/103),the AG genotype 50.49%(52/103)and the GG genotype 20.39%(21/103).Chemotherapy sensitivity was significantly lower in the patients with the GSTP1-rs1695 AA type than in those with the AG/GG types(35.82%vs 58.33%,P<0.05),but showed no statistically significant difference between the XRCC1-rs25487 AA and AG/GG types(40.00%vs 45.21%,P>0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in the 3-year progression-free survival rate between the patients with different GSTP1-rs1695 and XRCC1-rs25487 phenotypes(P>0.05).The 3-year overall survival rate was lower in the patients with the GSTP1-rs1695 AA type than in those with the AG/GG types,and so was it in those with the XRCC1-rs25487 AA type than in those with the AG/GG types(P<0.05).Multivariate COX regression analysis showed that the GSTP1-rs1695 AA and XRCC1-rs25487 AA types were inde-pendent factors affecting the 3-year overall survival of the patients after chemotherapy.Conclusion:Both GSTP1-rs1695 and XRCC1-rs25487 gene polymorphisms have some influence on chemotherapy sensitivity and prognosis in PCa patients.The A allele mu-tations of GSTP1-rs1695 and XRCC1-rs25487 can decrease the 3-year survival rate,while their G allele mutations may help improve chemotherapy sensitivity and survival.
10.Sertraline hydrochloride combined with compound chamomile lidocaine gel for the treatment of premature ejaculation
Shu-Gen LI ; Shang GAO ; Zhen-Wei GU ; Dao-Hua ZHAO ; Jie JIANG ; Xiao-Ting LU ; Lan-Xiang LIU ; Hao-Ran LIU ; Ze CHEN
National Journal of Andrology 2024;30(9):809-812
Objective:To investigate the effect of sertraline hydrochloride combined with compound chamomile lidocaine gel in the treatment of premature ejaculation(PE).Methods:We selected 80 cases of PE treated in our hospital from June 2021 to May 2023 and equally randomized them into a control and an observation group,the former medicated with compound chamomile lidocaine gel while the latter with sertraline hydrochloride in addition,both for 6 weeks.We recorded and compared the intravaginal ejaculation latency time(IELT),the number of successful sexual intercourses per week,the Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool(PEDT)scores,and the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups of patients.Results:After the treatment,the IELT was signif-icantly longer([5.39±1.17]vs[2.49±0.73]min,P<0.05),the weekly number of successful sexual intercourses remarkably higher(1.82±0.45 vs 0.93±0.19,P<0.05)and the PEDT scores markedly lower(7.42±2.04 vs 9.85±2.36,P<0.05)in the observation than in the control group,but no statistically significant differences were observed in the baseline PEDT scores or the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups(P>0.05).Conclusion:Sertraline hydrochloride combined with com-pound chamomile lidocaine gel is definitely effective in the treatment of PE,which can significantly improve the patients'quality of sexual life,with a high safety and low incidence of adverse reactions.


Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail