1.Integrating Transcriptomics and 3D Organoids to Investigate Mechanism of Periplaneta americana Extract Against Lung Adenocarcinoma
Qiong MA ; Chunxia HUANG ; Jiawei HE ; Yuting BAI ; Xingyue LIU ; Yuxuan XIONG ; Yang ZHONG ; Hengzhou LAI ; Yuling JIANG ; Xueke LI ; Qian WANG ; Yifeng REN ; Xi FU ; Funeng GENG ; Taoqing WU ; Ping XIAO ; Fengming YOU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(11):124-132
ObjectiveTo evaluate the antitumor activity of Periplaneta americana extract(PAE) against human-derived lung adenocarcinoma organoids(LUAD-PDOs) and to elucidate its potential mechanism based on transcriptomics. MethodsFresh tumor and adjacent normal tissues from patients with LUAD were collected to construct LUAD-PDOs and normal lung organoid(Nor-PDOs) models using 3D organoid culture technology. The effective intervention concentration of PAE was determined using the cell counting kit-8(CCK-8) assay. Experimental groups included the model group(LUAD-PDOs), normal group, model administration group(LUAD-PDOs+PAE), and normal administration group(Nor-PDOs+PAE). Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining was used to observe the pathological structures of PDOs, immunohistochemistry(IHC) was performed to detect the expressions of the proliferation marker Ki-67 and lung adenocarcinoma differentiation markers cytokeratin-7(CK-7) and Napsin A, TUNEL staining was applied to detect cell apoptosis. RNA sequencing(RNA-Seq) was conducted to identify differentially expressed genes(DEGs), followed by Gene Ontology(GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG), and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis(GSEA), alongside protein-protein interaction(PPI) network analysis to screen core mechanisms. Finally, key targets were validated by integrating external database analysis with immunofluorescence(IF). ResultsNor-PDOs and LUAD-PDOs that highly recapitulated the pathological characteristics of the primary tissues were successfully established. The CCK-8 assay determined that the effective intervention concentration of PAE was 16 g·L-1. Morphological observation showed that Nor-PDOs exhibited lumen-forming structures, whereas LUAD-PDOs displayed dense, solid structures. CCK-8 and TUNEL assays revealed that, compared with the model group, PAE intervention inhibited the proliferation of LUAD-PDOs and promoted apoptosis in LUAD cells, while showing no significant effect on the viability of Nor-PDOs. Transcriptomic analysis identified 719 DEGs that were significantly reversed after PAE intervention(347 up-regulated and 372 down-regulated)(P<0.05). GO enrichment analysis indicated that DEGs in the model administration group were significantly enriched in biological processes related to cell cycle regulation compared to the model group. KEGG pathway analysis revealed that PAE affected pathways related to proliferation and metabolism, including pathways in cancer and the p53 signaling pathway. GSEA further confirmed that PAE significantly enhanced the activity of the p53 signaling pathway(P<0.05). PPI network analysis indicated that breast cancer type 1 susceptibility protein(BRCA1) and checkpoint kinase 1(CHEK1) were the core down-regulated targets in the p53 pathway. IF verified the high expression of BRCA1 and CHEK1 in LUAD-PDOs and their significant downregulation after PAE intervention(P<0.05). Furthermore, survival analysis based on The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA) database indicated that low expression of BRCA1 and CHEK1 was significantly associated with prolonged overall survival in patients with LUAD(P<0.05). ConclusionPAE effectively inhibits proliferation of LUAD-PDOs and promotes their apoptosis, its anti-tumor mechanism is potentially associated with the activation of the p53 signaling pathway, with BRCA1 and CHEK1 genes likely serving as key downstream targets for the effects of PAE.
2.Risk factors associated with lymph node metastasis in lung adenocarcinoma with a diameter≤3 cm
Shaowei XIN ; Xiangbing XIN ; Yabo ZHAO ; Miaomiao WEN ; Suxin JIANG ; Yanlu XIONG
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2026;33(02):255-260
Objective To explore the correlation between lymph node metastasis and clinicopathological features of lung adenocarcinoma with diameter≤3 cm. Methods The clinicopathologic data of the patients with lung adenocarcinoma≤3 cm in diameter were retrospectively analyzed. The relationship between lymph node metastasis and age, gender, smoking history, pathological subtype, tumor diameter, pleural invasion, vascular invasion and other factors was analyzed. The risk factors of lymph node metastasis were analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression. Results Finally 1 718 patients were collected, including 697 males and 1 021 females with an average age of (58.89±9.85) years. The total lymph node metastasis rate was 12.9%, among whom 452 patients of adenocarcinoma in situ and minimally invasive adenocarcinoma did not have lymph node metastasis, and the lymph node metastasis rate of invasive lung adenocarcinoma was 17.5%. Multivariate analysis showed that tumor diameter, micropapillary subtype, solid subtype, micropapillary component, solid component, vascular invasion and pleural invasion were independent risk factors for lymph node metastasis of invasive lung adenocarcinoma with diameter≤3 cm (P<0.05). While age, lepidic subtype and lepidic component were independent protective factors for lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). Conclusion Clinicopathological features can help predict lymph node metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma with diameter≤3 cm.
3.Modified Xiaoyaosan Alleviates Neuronal Dysfunction in Rat Model of Post-myocardial Infarction Depression by Regulating Mitochondrial Quality Control Through Drp1/PINK1/Parkin Signaling Pathway
Zhen ZHONG ; Dongsheng WEI ; Xinyue XIONG ; Lin LI ; Mingli YAO ; Xinnuan SHI ; Youming JIANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(13):20-31
ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of modified Xiaoyaosan (JJXYS) on behavioral abnormalities and hippocampal mitochondrial quality control (MQC) in the rat model of post-myocardial infarction depression (PMD) and preliminarily explore its potential mechanism. MethodsA rat model of PMD was established by left anterior descending coronary artery ligation combined with chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). Rats were randomized into a control group, a model group, a fluoxetine (FLX, 10 mg·kg-1) group, and low-, medium-, and high-dose JJXYS (JJXYS-L/M/H, 1.12, 2.24, 4.48 g·kg-1, respectively) groups. Depressive-like behaviors were evaluated by body weight monitoring, sucrose preference test, open field test, and forced swimming test. Hematoxylin-eosin staining and Nissl staining were used to observe hippocampal histomorphology and neuronal changes. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was conducted to determine the serum levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), dopamine (DA), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). The mRNA levels of MQC-related genes including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1 alpha (PGC-1α), nuclear respiratory factor 1 (Nrf1), and transcription factor A, mitochondrial (TFAM) in the hippocampal tissue were measured by real-time PCR. The expression of proteins related to the dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1)/PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1)/Parkin signaling pathway was determined by Western blot. ResultsCompared with the control group, the model group showed restricted body weight gain, aggravated depressive-like behaviors, declined serum 5-HT and DA levels, evident hippocampal neuronal damage and reduced Nissl bodies, as well as downregulated expression of MQC-related genes and proteins (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, both FLX and JJXYS alleviated the above changes to varying degrees. Moreover, the JJXYS-M and JJXYS-H groups showed more pronounced effects, improving behavioral performance, restoring 5-HT and DA levels, alleviating hippocampal pathological injury, and upregulating the expression of PGC-1α/Nrf1/TFAM mRNA and Drp1/PINK1/Parkin signaling pathway-related proteins (P<0.05). ConclusionJJXYS can significantly alleviate depressive-like behaviors and neurotransmitter imbalance in the rat model of PMD by regulating hippocampal MQC and upregulating the Drp1/PINK1/Parkin-related pathway. This study provides experimental evidence for the intervention of PMD with JJXYS.
4.The mediating effect of occupational well-being between professional identity and safety behavior among nurses
Xinyan JIANG ; Guowei CHEN ; Haili GUO ; Yuxiu YU ; Sumin LI ; Yuanxin CHEN ; Wei XIONG ; LI SUN ; Ling JIANG
China Occupational Medicine 2025;52(3):276-281
Objective To explore the mediating role of occupational well-being in the relationship between professional identity and safety behavior among nurses. Methods A total of 1 006 nurses from ten tertiary general hospitals in eight provincial administrative regions were selected as the research subjects using convenient sampling method. Their safety behavior, professional identity and occupational well-being were investigated using Nurse Safety Behavior Scale, Nurse Professional Identity Scale and Occupational Well-being Scale. Structural equation modeling was performed using AMOS 26.0 to examine the mediating effect of occupational well-being in the relationship between professional identity and safety behavior among nurses. Results The scores for safety behavior, professional identity, and occupational well-being were (53.0±6.1), (123.7±21.2) and (90.8±13.1), respectively. Safety behavior was positively correlated with both professional identity and occupational well-being (correlation coefficients were 0.50 and 0.50, respectively, both P<0.01). Professional identity was positively correlated with occupational well-being (correlation coefficient was 0.51, P<0.01). The multiple linear regression analysis results showed that the higher the professional identity and occupational well-being of nurses, the higher the level of safety behavior (both P<0.05). The result of mediating effect shows that the total effect of occupational identity on safety behavior was 0.498 [95% confidence interval (CI) was 0.405-0.576], and occupational well-being played a mediating role between professional identity and safety behavior among nurses with the mediation effect of 0.156 (95%CI was 0.112-0.205), accounting for 31.33% of the total effect. Conclusion The safety behavior of nurses is at a moderate level. Both professional identity and occupational well-being can affect the safety behavior of nurses. Professional identity can increase the safety behavior of nurses by affecting occupational well-being.
6.Interpretation of connotation of Simiao Yong'an Decoction based on severe cases and modern pathophysiological mechanisms and experience in treating diabetic foot with infection, sepsis, and arteriosclerosis obliterans in critical care medicine.
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(1):267-272
Simiao Yong'an Decoction is derived from the New Compilation of Proved Prescriptions(Yan Fang Xin Bian). This formula has the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying as well as activating blood and relieving pain. It is mainly used to treat gangrene caused by excessive heat toxin and with the clinical manifestations including dark red and slightly swollen limbs, scorching skin, ulceration and odor, severe pain, occasional fever, thirst, red tongue, and rapid pulse. Nowadays, Simiao Yong'an Decoction is mostly used in the treatment of thromboangitis obliterans, ulcers in arteriosclerosis obliterans of lower limbs, stent restenosis after angioplasty of lower limbs, ecthyma, deep venous thrombosis, diabetic arteriosclerosis obliterans of lower limbs, diabetic foot ulcer, acute knee arthritis, varicose veins of lower limbs, coronary heart disease, post percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI), sepsis, gout, tumor, chronic tonsillitis in children, and other diseases. It has been identified that diabetic foot with infection, sepsis, arteriosclerosis obliterans, and thromboangitis obliterans belong to the category of gangrene in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), and Simiao Yong'an Decoction is an ancient specialized prescription for treating this disease. The diseases that can be treated by Simiao Yong'an Decoction include arteriosclerosis obliterans, thromboangitis obliterans, diabetic foot, and ecthyma. The symptoms that can be treated by Simiao Yong'an Decoction include dark red, blackened, slightly swollen, burning, ulceration, and odor in the fingers and toes, and toes falling off, hands and feet decaying and collapsing, severe and unbearable pain in some cases. Furthermore, this formula is effective for skin ulceration spreading, pus dripping, swollen and proliferating lymph nodes. These symptoms are always accompanied by dry mouth, thirst, irritability, yellow urine, and dry stool. The TCM symptoms include red tongue, thin and white tongue coating, and wiry and rapid pulse. In the case with the complication of refractory hypotension, large dosage of Astragali Radix is used to replenish Qi, reinforce healthy Qi, and expressing toxin, which can often achieve blood pressure-elevating and anti-inflammatory effects. Simiao Yong'an Decoction is often combined with Simiao Pills and Guizhi Fuling Pills. High-dose medication is the key to the effectiveness of this formula. Integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine plays an important role in the treatment of diabetic foot with infection, sepsis, septic shock, arteriosclerosis obliterans, and thromboangitis obliterans.
Humans
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Diabetic Foot/physiopathology*
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*
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Arteriosclerosis Obliterans/physiopathology*
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Sepsis/physiopathology*
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Critical Care
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Male
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Infections/physiopathology*
7.Traditional Chinese medicine understanding and treatment strategies for hypertension com plicated by chronic low back pain from perspective of kidney deficiency syndrome.
Zheng-Rong LUO ; Yin-Qiu GAO ; Xing-Jiang XIONG ; Pin LYU ; Xiao-Chen YANG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(4):1121-1131
In China, the number of chronic pain patients has exceeded 300 million, making chronic pain the third major health problem after tumors and cardiovascular diseases. Particularly concerning is the gradual emergence of hypertension and chronic low back pain as public health problems that threaten public health and increase the global economic burden. Modern research shows that the incidence of coexisting hypertension is higher among patients with chronic low back pain. Additionally, evidence indicates that the use of NSAIDs for pain relief can have adverse effects on blood pressure, and some antihypertensive medications may trigger symptoms of low back pain. Thus, addressing chronic pain in hypertensive patients while stabilizing blood pressure is one of the important research questions in the modern treatment of hypertension among middle-aged and elderly individuals. From ancient to modern traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) theory, kidney deficiency has been regarded as the core pathogenesis of low back pain. Recent clinical practices and literature indicate that kidney deficiency plays a crucial role in the modern pathogenesis of hypertension. Both hypertension and chronic low back pain are closely associated with kidney deficiency in TCM theory, revealing a potential mechanism linking the two conditions. Combining the theories of " kidney-essence-marrow" and " nourishing water to moisten wood", a therapeutic strategy centered on tobifying kidney was proposed, including selecting single drugs with kidney-tonifying effects as well as compound formulations and elaborating modern research evidence. The aim is to achieve stable blood pressure control in hypertension patients with chronic low back pain while providing a new treatment perspective for chronic low back pain. This article systematically elaborates on the understanding of hypertension combined with chronic low back pain from both TCM and modern medicine, as well as the therapeutic strategy involving kidney-tonifying drugs, to offer useful references for clinical practice.
Humans
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Hypertension/complications*
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Low Back Pain/complications*
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*
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Kidney/drug effects*
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Medicine, Chinese Traditional
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Chronic Pain/drug therapy*
8.Traditional Chinese medicine understanding and treatment of acute myocardial infarction complicated with acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding.
Xing-Jiang XIONG ; Fu-Kun LUO ; Xiao-Ya WANG ; Yu LAN ; Peng-Qian WANG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(7):1969-1973
Acute myocardial infarction and acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding are both critical internal medicine conditions. The incidence of acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with acute myocardial infarction ranges from 5.31% to 8.90%, with a mortality rate as high as 20.50% to 35.70%. The pathogenesis may be related to the use of antiplatelet and anticoagulant drugs, as well as stress-induced injury. In treatment, the contradiction between antiplatelet/anticoagulation therapy and bleeding has made this disease a significant challenge in modern medicine. Therefore, re-exploring the etiology, pathogenesis, treatment principles, and methods of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) for acute myocardial infarction and acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding is of great clinical importance. The research team has been working year-round in the coronary care unit(CCU), managing a large number of such severe patients. By revisiting classic texts and delving into the foundational theories of TCM and historical medical literature, it has been found that this disease falls under the category of "distant blood" in the Synopsis of the Golden Chamber. In terms of etiology, it is primarily associated with weakness of healthy Qi and damage caused by drug toxicity. In terms of pathogenesis, in the acute stage, it mainly manifests as insufficient spleen Yang, deficiency of spleen Qi, and failure of the spleen to control blood. In the remission stage, it is characterized by deficiency of both heart Qi and spleen blood. For treatment, during the acute stage, Huangtu Decoction is used to warm Yang and restrain blood, while in the remission stage, Guipi Decoction is administered to tonify Qi and nourish blood. During the treatment process, for patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated with acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding, it is crucial to flexibly apply the treatment principles of "Nil per os" in western medicine and "where there is stomach Qi, there is life; where there is no stomach Qi, there is death" in TCM. Early intervention with Huangtu Decoction can also prevent bleeding, with large doses being key to achieving hemostasis. It is important to address the pathogenesis of heat syndrome in addition to the core pathogenesis of Yang deficiency bleeding and to emphasize the follow-up treatment with Guipi Decoction for a successful outcome.
Humans
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Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/etiology*
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Myocardial Infarction/drug therapy*
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*
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Medicine, Chinese Traditional
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Acute Disease
9.Application of Tianxiong Granules in treating hypertension from both heart and brain based on "heart-brain" axis.
Xing MENG ; Peng-Qian WANG ; Xing-Jiang XIONG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(5):1412-1418
Hypertension, a common risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, has aroused global concern. As breakthroughs have been achieved in the traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) and western medicine theories related to the heart and brain, top international journals such as Science pay increasing attention to the functional interaction between the heart and brain in modern medicine, known as the "heart-brain" axis, also referred to as the "cardiovascular-brain" circuit. The heart and brain interact and influence each other through the "heart-brain" axis. Increasing evidence suggests that the inflammation-regulated "heart-brain" axis plays a crucial role in the occurrence and development of hypertension, offering new insights for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. In TCM, there is a connection between the heart and brain by the sharing of blood essence, interconnected blood vessels, and shared governance over the mind. Diseases of the heart and brain share common pathological and physiological foundations, similar risk factors, and TCM pathogeneses, which form the basis for simultaneous treatment of heart and brain diseases in TCM. The principle of simultaneous treatment of the heart and brain diseases aligns with the theory of "heart-brain" axis. Modern research has found that the heart and brain are the main target organs of hypertension. Long-term high blood pressure can easily cause structural changes, mainly characterized by left ventricular hypertrophy and dilation, leading to hypertensive heart disease. Hypertension can change the structure, blood supply, and function of the brain, being closely related to cerebral atherosclerosis, cerebral infarction, cerebral hemorrhage, cognitive dysfunction, dementia and other brain diseases. TCM treatment of hypertension has a long history. According to the pathogenesis(Yang hyperactivity and blood stasis) of hypertension, the team has developed the core treatment principle of subduing Yang and activating blood. Through extensive clinical exploration and experimental research, the team has developed an effective prescription called Tianxiong Granules. This prescription has shown definite efficacy in stabilizing blood pressure, ameliorating clinical symptoms, and reducing target organ damage. The protective effects of Tianxiong Granules on the heart and brain are reflected in aspects such as symptoms related to the heart and brain, pharmacological effects on ventricular hypertrophy, and brain protection. The preliminary research by the team found that Tianxiong Granules might treat hypertension by inhibiting sympathetic nerve excitation and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system(RAAS) and targeting mitochondrial autophagy to regulate the activation of the NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3(NLRP3) inflammasome. The activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome mediates pyroptosis, which is a key mechanism of hypertension. Next, the team will construct the adeno-associated viruses with downregulated NLRP3 expression via adenoviral vectors and use viral tracing technology, left stellate ganglionectomy, and a cardiac denervation model to reveal the mechanism of Tianxiong Granules in regulating the heart-brain interaction in hypertensive rats, from both in vivo and in vitro perspectives. In summary, exploring clinical treatment strategies for hypertension from both heart and brain based on the "heart-brain" axis is likely to be a new direction for the development of drugs for hypertension and offers a new target and basis for intervention in hypertension.
Humans
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Hypertension/physiopathology*
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*
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Brain/physiopathology*
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Animals
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Heart/physiopathology*
10.Connotation of deficiency-induced chest impediment and Renshen Decoction based on severe cases and modern pathophysiological mechanisms and its application in treatment of coronary heart disease, rheumatic heart disease, heart failure, hypotension, pulmonary arterial hypertension, and other critical illnesses.
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(6):1706-1714
Renshen Decoction is derived from the Synopsis of the Golden Chamber and is also known as Lizhong Pills or Lizhong Decoction, with the effects of warming the middle, dispelling cold, tonifying Qi, and strengthening the spleen, primarily treating spleen-stomach deficiency-cold syndrome. In modern clinical practice, Lizhong Pills and Lizhong Decoction are more frequently used, while Renshen Decoction is less common. Currently, this decoction is often applied in the treatment of gastric ulcers, infantile rotavirus diarrhea, chronic nephritis, autoimmune diabetes, allergic rhinitis, and other conditions, but reports on its use for coronary heart disease and angina pectoris are limited. Research has shown that in the original text, chest impediment(chest pain and stuffiness) includes not only coronary heart disease but also conditions such as coronary microcirculation disorders, X syndrome, coronary artery bridge, cardiomyopathy, heart valve disease, heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary heart disease, pulmonary arterial hypertension, hypotension, arrhythmia, and other diseases characterized by chest tightness. The name Renshen Decoction focuses on Panax ginseng without mentioning "Lizhong", indicating that its primary target is not the middle energizer but rather the deficiency of vital Qi and the collapse of the heart vessel. "Qi counterflow from the hypochondrium and rushing up to chest" encompasses acute inferior myocardial infarction combined with gastrointestinal irritation, and diseases with chest tightness as the main clinical manifestation combined with slow arrhythmias associated with vagus nerve excitement, nausea, and vomiting. Renshen Decoction is formulated for the deficiency-induced chest impediment, corresponding to the complication stage of coronary heart disease in modern clinical practice, which includes acute myocardial infarction with hypotension, cardiogenic shock, heart failure, and bradyarrhythmia. This differs from the excess-induced chest impediment addressed by Zhishi Xiebai Guizhi Decoction in the same article. The chest impediment treated by Renshen Decoction includes both the acute critical stage of cardiovascular diseases and the recovery phase of major illnesses. Pathophysiologically, the syndrome associated with Renshen Decoction may be closely related to ischemia, heart failure, hypotension, shock, and bradycardia. In terms of formula differentiation, Renshen Decoction must be distinguished from Zhishi Xiebai Guizhi Decoction and Chaihu Jia Longgu Muli Decoction. Renshen Decoction represents the ancient "Cardiac Triple Therapy".
Humans
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*
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Coronary Disease/physiopathology*
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Heart Failure/physiopathology*
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Hypertension, Pulmonary/physiopathology*
;
Hypotension/physiopathology*

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