OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Shexiang Tongxin Dropping Pill (STDP) in treating stable angina patients with phlegm-heat and blood-stasis syndrome by exercise duration and metabolic equivalents. METHODS: This multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial enrolled stable angina patients with phlegm-heat and blood-stasis syndrome from 22 hospitals. They were randomized 1:1 to STDP (35 mg/pill, 6 pills per day) or placebo for 56 days. The primary outcome was the exercise duration and metabolic equivalents (METs) assessed by the standard Bruce exercise treadmill test after 56 days of treatment. The secondary outcomes included the total angina symptom score, Chinese medicine (CM) symptom scores, Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) scores, changes in ST-T on electrocardiogram and adverse events (AEs). RESULTS: This trial enrolled 309 patients, including 155 and 154 in the STDP and placebo groups, respectively. STDP significantly prolonged exercise duration with an increase of 51.0 s, compared to a decrease of 12.0 s with placebo (change rate: -11.1% vs. 3.2%, P<0.01). The increase in METs was significantly greater in the STDP group than in the placebo group (change: -0.4 vs. 0.0, change rate: -5.0% vs. 0.0%, P<0.01). The improvement of total angina symptom scores (25.0% vs. 0.0%), CM symptom scores (38.7% vs. 11.8%), reduction of nitroglycerin consumption (100.0% vs. 11.3%), and all domains of SAQ, were significantly greater with STDP than placebo (all P<0.01). The changes in Q-T intervals at 28 and 56 days from baseline were similar between the two groups (both P>0.05). Twenty-five participants (16.3%) with STDP and 16 (10.5%) with placebo experienced AEs (P=0.131), with no serious AEs observed. CONCLUSION STDP could improve exercise tolerance in patients with stable angina and phlegm-heat and blood stasis syndrome, with a favorable safety profile. (Registration No. ChiCTR-IPR-15006020).
Humans ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/adverse effects* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Angina, Stable/physiopathology* ; Aged ; Syndrome ; Treatment Outcome ; Placebos ; Tablets

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the dynamic changes of glucocorticoid (GC) dose and the feasibility of GC discontinuation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients under the background of Chinese medicine (CM). METHODS: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included 1,196 RA patients enrolled in the China Rheumatoid Arthritis Registry of Patients with Chinese Medicine (CERTAIN) from September 1, 2019 to December 4, 2023, who initiated GC therapy. Participants were divided into the Western medicine (WM) and integrative medicine (IM, combination of CM and WM) groups based on medication regimen. Follow-up was performed at least every 3 months to assess dynamic changes in GC dose. Changes in GC dose were analyzed by generalized estimator equation, the probability of GC discontinuation was assessed using Kaplan-Meier curve, and predictors of GC discontinuation were analyzed by Cox regression. Patients with <12 months of follow-up were excluded for the sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: Among 1,196 patients (85.4% female; median age 56.4 years), 880 (73.6%) received IM. Over a median 12-month follow-up, 34.3% (410 cases) discontinued GC, with significantly higher rates in the IM group (40.8% vs. 16.1% in WM; P<0.05). GC dose declined progressively, with IM patients demonstrating faster reductions (median 3.75 mg vs. 5.00 mg in WM at 12 months; P<0.05). Multivariate Cox analysis identified age <60 years [P<0.001, hazard ratios (HR)=2.142, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.523-3.012], IM therapy (P=0.001, HR=2.175, 95% CI: 1.369-3.456), baseline GC dose ⩽7.5 mg (P=0.003, HR=1.637, 95% CI: 1.177-2.275), and absence of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs use (P=0.001, HR=2.546, 95% CI: 1.432-4.527) as significant predictors of GC discontinuation. Sensitivity analysis (545 cases) confirmed these findings. CONCLUSIONS RA patients receiving CM face difficulties in following guideline-recommended GC discontinuation protocols. IM can promote GC discontinuation and is a promising strategy to reduce GC dependency in RA management. (Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, No. NCT05219214).
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy* ; Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Retrospective Studies

Objective:To explore the risk factors of colostomy site incisional hernia associated with colorectal can-cer and to construct and validate a nomogram model.Methods:A retrospective case-control study was conducted to collect and analyze the clinical data of patients who underwent stoma reversal after colorectal cancer surgery in the Gen-eral Surgery Department of Linyi People's Hospital from January 2019 to January 2023.A total of 371 patients were en-rolled and divided into SSIH group and non-SSIH group according to whether SSIH occurred.SPSS 25.0 software was used to perform univariate analysis on 22 related factors of patients,and multivariate analysis was performed on statisti-cally significant risk factors to screen out the independent influencing factors of SSIH related to CRC surgery.According to the results of multivariate analysis,the R language version 4.3.1 was used to establish and verify the nomogram risk prediction model.Results:SSIH occurred in 52 of 371 patients(14.02％).The results of univariate analysis showed that BMI,coronary heart disease,incision infection,stoma location,parastomal hernia,and closure time were statistically sig-nificant(P＜0.05).Multivariate analysis showed that coronary heart disease,closure time and parastomal hernia were in-dependent risk factors for SSIH after CRC(P＜0.05).Based on the above results,the nomogram prediction model was successfully drawn and verified.Conclusions:Coronary heart disease,closure time and parastomal hernia are inde-pendent risk factors for SSIH after CRC surgery.The nomogram constructed based on these factors has a high predictive value for SSIH,which can provide a basis for clinicians to prevent and treat SSIH,and help reduce the incidence of SSIH.

Objective:To explore the risk factors of colostomy site incisional hernia associated with colorectal can-cer and to construct and validate a nomogram model.Methods:A retrospective case-control study was conducted to collect and analyze the clinical data of patients who underwent stoma reversal after colorectal cancer surgery in the Gen-eral Surgery Department of Linyi People's Hospital from January 2019 to January 2023.A total of 371 patients were en-rolled and divided into SSIH group and non-SSIH group according to whether SSIH occurred.SPSS 25.0 software was used to perform univariate analysis on 22 related factors of patients,and multivariate analysis was performed on statisti-cally significant risk factors to screen out the independent influencing factors of SSIH related to CRC surgery.According to the results of multivariate analysis,the R language version 4.3.1 was used to establish and verify the nomogram risk prediction model.Results:SSIH occurred in 52 of 371 patients(14.02％).The results of univariate analysis showed that BMI,coronary heart disease,incision infection,stoma location,parastomal hernia,and closure time were statistically sig-nificant(P＜0.05).Multivariate analysis showed that coronary heart disease,closure time and parastomal hernia were in-dependent risk factors for SSIH after CRC(P＜0.05).Based on the above results,the nomogram prediction model was successfully drawn and verified.Conclusions:Coronary heart disease,closure time and parastomal hernia are inde-pendent risk factors for SSIH after CRC surgery.The nomogram constructed based on these factors has a high predictive value for SSIH,which can provide a basis for clinicians to prevent and treat SSIH,and help reduce the incidence of SSIH.

ObjectiveTo explore the characteristics of circadian rhythm of blood pressure in patients with masked hypertension （MH） and its relationship with twelve two-hour peirods， providing a basis for early detection and intervention of MH. MethodsPatients who underwent 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure examination in the ambulatory blood pressure room of Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine from January to December 2022 were enrolled， and according to their outpatient blood pressure measurements， 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and follow-up survey results， the MH， essential hypertension （EH） and normal blood pressure groups were classified， with 50 cases in each group. The general data， office blood pressure and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring data were collected. The circadian rhythm of blood pressure including 24-hour average systolic blood pressure （24h SBP）， daytime average systolic blood pressure （d SBP）， nighttime average systolic blood pressure （n SBP）， 24-hour average diastolic blood pressure （24h DBP）， daytime average diastolic blood pressure （d DBP）， and nighttime average diastolic blood pressure （n DBP） were compared among the groups， and the nighttime blood pressure dipping percentage was calculated. The type of circadian rhythm was determined based on the nighttime blood pressure dipping percentage. The variability of blood pressure including 24h SBP standard deviation （24h SBP-SD）， d SBP standard deviation （dSBP-SD）， n SBP standard deviation （nSBP-SD）， 24h DBP standard deviation （24h DBP-SD）， d DBP standard deviation （dDBP-SD）， and n DBP standard deviation （nDBP-SD） were compared among groups， and the corresponding coefficient of variation （CV）， that is， 24h SBP-CV， d SBP-CV， n SBP-CV， 24h DBP-CV， d DBP-CV and n DBP-CV， were calculated. Based on the 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring results， the twelve two-hour average SBP and DBP in each group were calculated and compared. Simultaneously， patients with EH were divided into grades 1， 2， and 3 for further stratified analysis. ResultsThe age of the MH group was significantly higher than that of the EH group and the normal blood pressure group （P＜0.01）. The body mass index （BMI） and the proportion of smoking and alcohol consumption in the MH group and the EH group were significantly higher than those in the normal blood pressure group （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. In the normal blood pressure group， there were 49 dipper patterns （98.0%） and one non-dipper pattern （2.0%）； in the MH group， there were two dipper patterns （4.0%）， 29 non-dipper patterns （58.0%） and 19 reverse-dipper patterns （38.0%）； in the EH group， there were 20 dipper patterns （40.0%）， 23 non-dipper patterns （46.0%） and seven reverse-dipper patterns （14.0%）. Compared to the normal blood pressure group， the groups of MH and EH had significantly decreased proportion of dipper pattern and increased proportion of non-dipper and reverse-dipper pattern （P＜0.01）； the proportion of dipper pattern in the MH group was lower than that in the EH group， while the proportion of reverse-dipper pattern was higher （P＜0.01）. Compared to those in the normal blood pressure group， n SBP and n DBP in the MH group， as well as the the average SBP and average DBP at Zi hour （子时， 23：00-1：00）， Chou hour （丑时， 1：00-3：00）， Yin hour （寅时， 3：00-5：00）， Mao hour （卯时， 5：00-7：00） and average SBP at Hai hour （亥时， 21：00-23：00） in the MH group increased，while the average DBP at Si hour （巳时， 9：00-11：00） decreased （P＜0.01）； 24h SBP， 24h DBP， d SBP， d DBP， n SBP， and n DBP，d SBP-SD， n SBP-SD，n DBP-SD increased， as well as the average SBP and average DBP at twelve two-hour periods increased in the EH group，while the 24h SBP-CV， 24h DBP-CV，and d DBP-CV in the EH group decreased（P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. The EH group had higher 24h SBP， 24h DBP， d SBP， d DBP， n SBP， n DBP， 24h DBP-SD and n DBP-SD ， as well as higher average SBP and DBP at all twelve two-hour periods， and lower d DBP-CV than the MH group（P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. The EH group had 18 cases of grade 1 （36.0％）， 19 cases of grade 2 （38.0％） and 13 cases of grade 3 （26.0％）， with no significant differences among groups （P＞0.05）. ConclusionThe circadian rhythm of blood pressure in MH patients are mostly non-dipper and reverse-dipper patterns， and the abnormal elevation of blood pressure is obvious at Zi hour， Chou hour， Yin hour and Mao hour （23：00-7：00）.

Thrombosis is a key factor that increases the mortality rate of COVID-19 patients and causes long COVID sequelae. Guanxinning Tablet (GXNT), which is composed of Salvia miltiorrhiza and Ligusticum Chuanxiong, has significant antithrombotic activity, but the similarities and differences between its anti-conventional thrombus and microthrombus induced by COVID-19 remain unclear. In this paper, the main active components, potential targets and mechanisms of GXNT in the treatment of thrombus and microthrombus caused by COVID-19 were preliminarily revealed by using anti-platelet experiments in vitro, network pharmacology analysis, molecular docking technology and molecular biology experiments. The results of platelet aggregation and adhesion experiments in vitro showed that GXNT had significant anti-platelet aggregation and adhesion activities in a dose-dependent manner. Using network pharmacology analysis, it was revealed that salvianolic acid B, tanshinone IIA, caffeic acid and ligustrazine in GXNT could resist thrombus and microthrombus caused by COVID-19 through key targets as the high mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin 6 (IL6) and AKT serine/threonine kinase 1 (AKT1). HMGB1 signaling pathway is one of its key common mechanisms. Western blot also indicated that GXNT significantly inhibited the expression of HMGB1 protein in platelets. In summary, this paper explores the similarities and differences between the mechanism of GXNT against conventional thrombus and microthrombus caused by COVID-19 and provides drug reference and theoretical basis for clinical prevention and treatment of long COVID sequelae. The animal experiment has been approved by the Experimental Animal Ethics Committee of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (No. TCM-LAEC2023187g1549).

Objective To evaluate the effects of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction timing on the motor performance and proprioception by clinical evaluation as well as proprioception and motor performance tests on the patients more than 2 years after ACL reconstruction. Methods The patients who underwent ACL reconstruction in the National Institute of Sports Medicine,General Administration of Sport of China from January 2015 to January 2021 and met the inclusion criteria were followed up,and the postoperative data were collected retrospectively.Fifty-six patients who met the inclusion criteria were included in this study and categorized into two groups:early surgery (n=28,who underwent ACL reconstruction ≤3 weeks after injury) and delayed surgery (n=28,who underwent ACL reconstruction >3 weeks after injury).The basic information,clinical evaluation results,proprioception,and motor performance were compared between the two groups. Results The ACL return to sport after injury scale (ACL-RSI) score in the early surgery group was higher than that in the delayed surgery group [(68.68±22.04)scores vs. (55.82±24.87)scores,P=0.045].There was no difference in the range of motion of the knee joint,the positive rate of pivot shift test,or the scores of Tegner,Marx,Lysholm,knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score (KOOS),and international knee documentation committee (IKDC) between the two groups (all P>0.05).Although there was no significant difference in range of motion of the knee joint between the two groups,the proportion of knee flexion and extension affected in the early surgery group was smaller than that in the delayed surgery group.Neither motor performance (isokinetic strength test,Y-balance test,and single-leg jump test) nor proprioception had difference between the two groups (all P>0.05). Conclusions Early ACL reconstruction outperformed delayed ACL reconstruction in improving the psychological health,emotions,and confidence in returning to sport,accelerating functional recovery of the patients.The timing of ACL reconstruction has no significant effect on the short-term postoperative knee stability,knee function,motor performance,or proprioceptive recovery of the patients.Early ACL reconstruction is recommended for improving the clinical outcomes.
Humans ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction/methods* ; Proprioception/physiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Male ; Female ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries/physiopathology* ; Adult ; Postoperative Period ; Time Factors ; Return to Sport ; Recovery of Function ; Knee Joint/physiopathology* ; Young Adult

Objective To evaluate the effects of knee flexor and extensor strength on the subjective function and motor performance of knees after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Methods A total of 53 patients who underwent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in the National Institute of Sports Medicine,General Administration of Sport of China from June 2015 to June 2021 and met the inclusion criteria were enrolled in this study.The patients were followed up time for at least 2 years.An isometric muscle strength test system was used to measure the strength of bilateral quadriceps and hamstring muscles.The patients were grouped according to whether the limb symmetry index (LSI) of peak torque of quadriceps and hamstring muscle reached 85% at an angular velocity of 60°/s.Specifically,26 patients were classified into group A (LSI≥85%) and 27 patients were classified into group B (LSI<85%).The subjective function and motor performance of knees were compared between the two groups. Results In terms of subjective function of knees,the international knee documentation committee (IKDC) score (88.76±9.93 vs. 81.08±12.57,P=0.017) and knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score (KOOS) (86.27±8.96 vs. 80.22±11.31,P=0.036) were different between groups A and B.There was no significant difference in Lysholm score [95.0 (79.8,100.00) vs. 86.00 (66.00,100.00),P=0.238],ACL return to sports after injury scale score (66.08±22.25 vs. 61.12±23.53,P=0.434),Marx score [6.00 (4.75,7.00) vs. 6.00 (4.00,7.00),P=0.805] or Tegner activity score [8.00 (4.00,12.00) vs. 4.00 (2.00,12.00),P=0.566] between the two groups.In terms of motor performance,the single-leg triple hop LSI (0.92±0.13 vs. 0.81±0.18,P=0.016) and single-leg crossover hop LSI (0.96±0.12 vs. 0.84±0.22,P=0.021) showed significant differences between groups A and B,while there was no significant difference in single-leg hop LSI (0.90±0.18 vs. 0.79±0.25,P=0.116) between the two groups.In addition,there was no statistical significance in proprioception [30°:8.83±4.66 vs. 10.73±4.63,P=0.143;45°:6.94±3.82 vs. 7.66±3.93,P=0.504;60°:4.10 (3.20,4.72) vs. 3.90 (2.30,5.20),P=0.493] or Y-balance test results [anterior LSI:0.98 (0.84,1.02) vs. 0.94 (0.86,0.98),P=0.328;posterolateral LSI:1.00±0.08 vs. 0.97±0.07,P=0.249;posteromedial LSI:1.00 (0.97,1.03) vs. 0.96 (0.93,1.03),P=0.179] between groups A and B. Conclusion The patients with good symmetry of quadriceps and hamstring muscle strength after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction had better subjective function and movement performance of knees than the patients with poor symmetry,which was mainly reflected in the IKDC score,KOOS,single-leg triple hop,and single-leg crossover hop.
Humans ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction ; Muscle Strength/physiology* ; Male ; Quadriceps Muscle/physiology* ; Female ; Adult ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries/physiopathology* ; Hamstring Muscles/physiopathology* ; Knee Joint/physiopathology* ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament/physiopathology* ; Torque ; Knee/physiopathology*

Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) compound preparations have complex compositions. As a widely used TCM injection, Shuganning Injection, its in vivo processes are not yet fully understood. Determining the plasma protein binding rate is of great significance for pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies. In this experiment, the equilibrium dialysis method combined with UPLC-MS/MS technology was used to determine the plasma protein binding rates of 10 components, including p-hydroxyacetophenone, caffeic acid, baicalein, oroxylin A, geniposide, baicalin, cynaroside, oroxylin A-7-O-β-D-glucuronide, scutellarin, and hyperoside, in Shuganning Injection in rat and human plasma to provide a theoretical basis for further elucidating the in vivo processes of Shuganning Injection and guiding clinical medication. The results showed that, except for baicalein and geniposide, the plasma protein binding rates of the other eight components were higher in human plasma than in rat plasma, and there were interspecies differences. In human plasma, except for geniposide, caffeic acid, and baicalin, the plasma protein binding rates of the remaining seven components were above 80%, with baicalein and oroxylin A exceeding 90%. All components exhibit a high level of binding to plasma proteins, with the exception of geniposide.
Rats ; Humans ; Animals ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry/methods* ; Chromatography, Liquid/methods* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Protein Binding ; Renal Dialysis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Blood Proteins ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods*

This study explored toxicity attenuation processing technology of Rhizoma Dioscoreae Bulbiferae stir-fried with Paeoniae Radix Alba decoction for the first time, and further explored its detoxification mechanism. Nine processed products of Rhizoma Dioscoreae Bulbiferae stir-fried with Paeoniae Radix Alba decoction were prepared by orthogonal experiment with three factors and three levels. Based on the decrease in the content of the main hepatotoxic component diosbulbin B before and after processing of Rhizoma Dioscoreae Bulbiferae by high-performance liquid chromatography, the toxicity attenuation technology was preliminarily screened out. On this basis, the raw and representative processed products of Rhizoma Dioscoreae Bulbiferae were given to mice by gavage with 2 g·kg~(-1)(equival to clinical equivalent dose) for 21 d. The serum and liver tissues were collected after the last administration for 24 h. The serum biochemical indexes reflecting liver function and liver histopathology were combined to further screen out and verify the proces-sing technology. Then, the lipid peroxidation and antioxidant indexes of liver tissue were detected by kit method, and the expressions of NADPH quinone oxidoreductase 1(NQO1) and glutamate-cysteine ligase(GCLM) in mice liver were detected by Western blot to further explore detoxification mechanism. The results showed that the processed products of Rhizoma Dioscoreae Bulbiferae stir-fried with Paeoniae Radix Alba decoction reduced the content of diosbulbin B and improved the liver injury induced by Rhizoma Dioscoreae Bul-biferae to varying degrees, and the processing technology of A_2B_2C_3 reduced the excessive levels of alanine transaminase(ALT) and aspartate transaminase(AST) induced by raw Rhizoma Dioscoreae Bulbiferae by 50.2% and 42.4%, respectively(P<0.01, P<0.01). The processed products of Rhizoma Dioscoreae Bulbiferae stir-fried with Paeoniae Radix Alba decoction reversed the decrease protein expression levels of NQO1 and GCLM in the liver of mice induced by raw Rhizoma Dioscoreae Bulbiferae to varying degrees(P<0.05 or P<0.01), and it also reversed the increasing level of malondialdehyde(MDA) and the decreasing levels of glutathione(GSH), glutathione peroxidase(GPX), and glutathione S-transferase(GST) in the liver of mice(P<0.05 or P<0.01). In summary, this study shows that the optimal toxicity attenuation processing technology of Rhizoma Dioscoreae Bulbiferae stir-fried with Paeoniae Radix Alba decoction is A_2B_2C_3, that is, 10% of Paeoniae Radix Alba decoction is used for moistening Rhizoma Dioscoreae Bulbiferae and processed at 130 ℃ for 11 min. The detoxification mechanism involves enhancing the expression levels of NQO1 and GCLM antio-xidant proteins and related antioxidant enzymes in the liver.
Mice ; Animals ; Antioxidants/analysis* ; Plant Extracts/pharmacology* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Rhizome/chemistry* ; Paeonia/chemistry* ; Glutathione/analysis*