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 China is among the 30 countries with a high burden of tuberculosis(TB)worldwide,and TB remains a public health concern.Kashgar Prefecture in the southern Xinjiang Autonomous Region is considered as one of the highest TB burden regions in China.However,molecular epidemiological studies of Kashgar are lacking. Methods A population-based retrospective study was conducted using whole-genome sequencing(WGS)to determine the characteristics of drug resistance and the transmission patterns. Results A total of 1,668 isolates collected in 2020 were classified into lineages 2(46.0%),3(27.5%),and 4(26.5%).The drug resistance rates revealed by WGS showed that the top three drugs in terms of the resistance rate were isoniazid(7.4%,124/1,668),streptomycin(6.0%,100/1,668),and rifampicin(3.3%,55/1,668).The rate of rifampicin resistance was 1.8%(23/1,290)in the new cases and 9.4%(32/340)in the previously treated cases.Known resistance mutations were detected more frequently in lineage 2 strains than in lineage 3 or 4 strains,respectively:18.6%vs.8.7 or 9%,P<0.001.The estimated proportion of recent transmissions was 25.9%(432/1,668).Multivariate logistic analyses indicated that sex,age,occupation,lineage,and drug resistance were the risk factors for recent transmission.Despite the low rate of drug resistance,drug-resistant strains had a higher risk of recent transmission than the susceptible strains(adjusted odds ratio,1.414;95%CI,1.023-1.954;P = 0.036).Among all patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis(DR-TB),78.4%(171/218)were attributed to the transmission of DR-TB strains. Conclusion Our results suggest that drug-resistant strains are more transmissible than susceptible strains and that transmission is the major driving force of the current DR-TB epidemic in Kashgar.

Objective To observe the relationship between functional connectivity(FC)of frontoparietal network(FPN)and cognitive function in patients with cerebral small vessel disease(CSVD)using resting-state functional MRI(rs-fMRI).Methods rs-fMRI of 50 CSVD patients with cognitive impairment(CI group),65 CSVD patients with normal cognition(NC group)and 60 healthy controls(HC group),as well as outcomes of neuropsychological tests were retrospectively analyzed.Brain regions with different FC of FPN were compared among 3 groups and between each 2 groups.Partial correlation analysis was used to evaluate the correlations of FC of brain regions value being statistically different between CI and NC groups and cognitive scores.Results Significant differences of FC in bilateral cingulate gyrus,left middle frontal gyrus,right supramarginal gyrus,right inferior parietal lobule and right medial superior frontal gyrus were found among groups(FWE correction,all P＜0.05).Compared with NC group,FC of left cingulate gyrus decreased,of right inferior frontal gyrus and right medial superior frontal gyrus increased in CI group(FWE correction,all P＜0.05).The decreased FC value of left cingulate gyrus was negatively correlated with clock drawing test score in CSVD patients(r=-0.159,P=0.049).Conclusion CSVD patients with or without CI had extensive abnormal FC of FPN,and the left cingulate gyrus was associated with patient's cognitive function.

Objective To explore the application value of T2*mapping sequence combined with texture feature indicatoror in the diagnosis of postmenopausal osteoporosis(PMOP)in women.Methods The clinical data of 50 PMOP patients admitted to some hospital from March 2019 to April 2021(enrolled into an osteoporosis group)were analyzed retrospectively,and another two groups were established including a normal bone mineral density(BMD)group composed of 50 postmenopausal physical examiners with normal BMD(BMD＞120 mg/cm3)and a reduced BMD group consisting of 50 postmenopausal women with decreased BMD(80 mg/cm3＜BMD＜120 mg/cm3).All the 3 groups underwent magnetic resonance lumbar spine conventional sequence and T2(mapping scanning and image texture feature extraction,which were compared in terms of lumbar T2*value and texture feature indicators including energy,contrast,correlation,deficit distance and entropy.Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between lumbar spine T2*values,texture feature indicators and the occurrence of POMP in women,independent predictors of the occurrence of PMOP in women were determined by multifactorial logistic regression analysis,the diagnostic efficacy of T2*mapping sequence combined with texture feature indicatoror for PMOP was analyzed using ROC curves,and a column-line diagram prediction model for POMP occurrence was constructed and validated.Results There were significant differences in T2*value,energy,contrast,correlation,deficit distance and entropy among the groups(P＜0.05).Spearman correlation analysis showed that with the occurrence of POMP lumbar spine T2*value,contrast and entropy were significantly positively correlated,while energy,correlation and deficit distance were significantly negatively correlated(P＜0.05).T2*value,energy,contrast,correlation,deficit distance and entropy were all independent predictors of the occurrence of POMP(P＜0.05).T2*mapping sequence combined with texture feature indicatoror behaved better than any single indicator in AUC,sensitivity and specificity.The column-line diagram prediction model predicted a 75.00％probability of POMP in women,which was validated with advantages ind1iscrimination,calibration and net benefit rate.Conclusion Magnetic resonance T2*mapping sequence combined with texture feature indicator behaves well in diagnosing POMP of women,and T2*value,energy,contrast,correlation,deficit distance and entropy can be used as sensitive indicators for clinical screening of people at high risk for POMP.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2024,45(8):68-72]

AIM:To explore the possible mechanism of Yiqi-Huoxue formula(YQHXF)in treating cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.METHODS:Male SD rats were randomly divided into six groups,namely,the sham,mod-el,nimodipine,and low-,middle-and high-dose YQHXF groups.The middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion(MCAO/R)model was established in all groups except the sham group.After successful modeling,the YQHXF low-,me-dium-,and high-dose groups were given 3.8,7.5,and 15 g?kg-1?d-1 of YQHXF,respectively,by gavage,while the ni-modipine group was given 12 mg?kg-1?d-1 of nimodipine tablets by gavage.The sham and model groups were given 10 mL?kg-1?d-1 of distilled water by gavage.After 14 days of drug intervention,the rats were euthanized and the neurological func-tion was evaluated.The infarct volume was assessed using 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride(TTC)staining and brain histopathological changes were determined by hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining.Transmission electron microscopy was used to investigate changes in autophagosomes,with immunofluorescence used to assess expression of microtubule-associ-ated protein 1 light chain 3(LC3)protein in the cerebral cortex,Western blot was used to measure protein levels of p-PI3K,PI3K,p-Akt,Akt,p-mTOR,mTOR,LC3B,p62,beclin-1,and Atg5,and RT-qPCR was used to determined LC3 and P62 mRNA expression.RESULTS:Compared with the sham group,the neural function scores of rats in the model group rats were significantly increased,and TTC staining revealed large areas of white cerebral infarction.There was severe pathological damage to the cerebral tissue in the ischemic cortical area,and large numbers of autophagosomes were seen inside the cells.Immunofluorescence staining showed significant numbers of LC3B-positive cells(P<0.01).Protein expression of beclin-1,Atg5,and LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ was significantly upregulated(P<0.01),while that of p62 was markedly downregulated(P<0.01).The expression of p-PI3K/PI3K,p-Akt/Akt,and p-mTOR/mTOR proteins was also significantly reduced(P<0.01).In addition,the mRNA expression of LC3 was significantly upregulated(P<0.01),with downregulation of P62 mRNA levels(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,both the YQHXF medium-and high-dose groups showed upregulated LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ values after 12 h of reperfusion(P<0.01),followed by downregulation of the ratios(P<0.05)after 3,7,and 14 days of reperfusion.Furthermore,after 14 days of reperfusion,compared with the model group,the middle-and high-dose YQHXF groups and the nimodipine group showed reduced neurological function scores(P<0.01),reduced cerebral infarction volumes(P<0.01),improvements in the pathological damage to cortical tis-sue,and reduced autophagosome formation to varying degrees.At the same time,the number of LC3B-positive cells was reduced(P<0.01).Protein expression of beclin-1,Atg5,and LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ was significantly downregulated,while that of p62 was upregulated(P<0.01).The mRNA expression of LC3 and p62 was consistent with the protein levels(P<0.01).In addition,the expression of p-PI3K/PI3K,p-Akt/Akt,and p-mTOR/mTOR proteins was upregulated(P<0.01).CONCLUSION:YQHXF can dynamically regulate autophagy in ischemic brain tissue,with inhibition of excess autophagy by activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway,thus reducing the infarct volume,alleviating brain dam-age,and promoting the recovery of neurological function.

Objective:To investigate the effects of fluoride exposure on kidney injury in rats and the sirtuin 3 (SIRT3)-fork head protein O3a (FOXO3a)-tensin homolog induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1)/E3 ubiquitin ligase (PARKIN) pathway.Methods:Twenty-four 4-week-old SD rats (clean grade, body mass 100 - 150 g) were selected and divided into three groups according to the randomized numeric table: control group, low fluoride group, and high fluoride group, with eight rats in each group (half male and half female). The control group was given free access to tap water (fluoride ion concentration < 0.5 mg/L), while the low fluoride and high fluoride groups were given free access to tap water and sodium fluoride solutions with fluoride ion concentrations of 5.0 and 50.0 mg/L, respectively, for a period of 180 days. The formation of dental fluorosis in rats was observed and recorded, and the femur, urine and blood samples of rats were collected to measure bone fluoride, urinary fluoride, and blood fluoride levels, and to detect kidney function related indicators (serum uric acid, creatinine, and urea nitrogen contents). Morphological changes of renal tissues stained with hematoxylin-eosin (HE) were observed under a light microscope. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression levels of renal SIRT3, FOXO3a, PINK1, PARKIN, microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3), autophagy receptor protein (P62), respectively.Results:Seven and one rats in the low and high fluoride groups were found to haveⅠdegree dental fluorosis, while zero and seven rats were found to haveⅡdegree dental fluorosis. Compared with the control group, rats in the low and high fluoride groups had higher levels of bone fluoride (μg/g: 1.18 ± 0.06, 2.16 ± 0.07 vs 0.52 ± 0.05), urinary fluoride (mg/L: 4.43 ± 0.11, 7.46 ± 0.09 vs 2.58 ± 0.14), blood fluoride (μg/ml: 0.77 ± 0.06, 1.68 ± 0.10 vs 0.52 ± 0.08), serum uric acid (μg/ml: 61.01 ± 4.17, 103.92 ± 5.43 vs 28.68 ± 2.91), creatinine (μg/ml: 74.82 ± 9.61, 132.05 ± 5.35 vs 22.38 ± 4.11), and urea nitrogen (μg/ml: 13.36 ± 1.27, 14.55 ± 0.34 vs 0.29 ± 0.07, P < 0.05). Under the light microscope, the kidneys of the control group showed tight and orderly arrangement of renal tubules and glomerular cells, with complete and clear cell contours. The low fluoride group was similar to the control group and no significant abnormalities were observed. The high fluoride group showed abnormal glomerular structure and atrophy, with some areas of renal tubules showing epithelial cell edema and unclear intercellular boundaries. The results of qRT-PCR assay showed that compared with the control group, the low and high fluoride groups had lower mRNA expression levels of SIRT3 (0.82 ± 0.03, 0.58 ± 0.02 vs 1.00 ± 0.08), P62 (0.75 ± 0.07, 0.28 ± 0.09 vs 1.00 ± 0.07, P < 0.05), and higher mRNA expression levels of FOXO3a (1.35 ± 0.04, 3.01 ± 0.23 vs 1.00 ± 0.08), PINK1 (1.58 ± 0.09, 3.28 ± 0.09 vs 1.00 ± 0.07), PARKIN (1.51 ± 0.04, 1.67 ± 0.10 vs 1.00 ± 0.05), LC3 (1.74 ± 0.07, 2.38 ± 0.18 vs 1.00 ± 0.08, P < 0.05). The results of Western blotting showed that compared with the control group, the low and high fluoride groups had lower protein expression levels of SIRT3 (0.91 ± 0.01, 0.55 ± 0.03 vs 1.00 ± 0.01), P62 (0.94 ± 0.27, 0.66 ± 0.38 vs 1.00 ± 0.19, P < 0.05), and higher protein expression levels of FOXO3a (1.14 ± 0.03, 1.22 ± 0.05 vs 1.00 ± 0.02), PINK1 (1.46 ± 0.03, 1.56 ± 0.03 vs 1.00 ± 0.05), PARKIN (1.98 ± 0.02, 2.33 ± 0.11 vs 1.00 ± 0.06), LC3 (4.10 ± 0.58, 4.93 ± 0.33 vs 1.00 ± 0.13, P < 0.05). Conclusion:Exposure to fluoride can cause renal tissue injury in rats, with downregulation of SIRT3 and P62 expression levels, and upregulation of FOXO3a, PINK1, PARKIN, and LC3 expression levels.

Objective To investigate the distribution patterns of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome elements in patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome(pSS;dryness blockage syndrome in TCM).Methods A total of 240 inpatients with pSS who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria and were treated in Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine from January 2012 to December 2022 were selected as the research objects,and data mining was performed on the information of syndrome elements.Results(1)Among the 240 patients,there were 21 males(accounting for 8.75％)and 219 females(accounting for 91.25％),indicating that most of which were female patients.In terms of the age,33(13.75％)patients were young(18-45 years old),148(61.67％)patients were middle-aged(46-69 years old),and 59(24.58％)patients were elderly(being or over 70 years old),indicating that most of the patients were middle-aged.(2)Among 240 patients,4 cases had no manifestations of any syndrome elements,and a total of 38 syndrome elements were obtained from the 236 cases of patients,including 15 diseases-location syndrome elements and 23 diseases-nature syndrome elements.The total frequency of syndrome elements was 1 142 times.The leading diseases-location syndrome elements with high frequency were liver(6.04％),lung(4.99％)and bones(4.20％),and the leading diseases-nature syndrome elements with high frequency were yin deficiency(13.75％),qi deficiency(9.37％)and phlegm(6.57％).The diseases-location syndrome elements were predominated by the single syndrome elements of disease-location(42.92％),and the diseases-nature syndrome elements were predominated by the complex syndrome elements of over five kinds of diseases-nature(25.83％).There were significant differences in the distribution of spleen and yin deficiency syndrome elements between the males and the females(P＜0.05),and statistically significant differences were shown in the distribution of qi deficiency and fluid retention syndrome elements among various age groups(P＜0.05).The syndrome-element combinations with high frequency were qi deficiency+yin deficiency(72 times,30％)and phlegm-damp+yin deficiency(72 times,30％),and then came heat+yin deficiency(59 times,24.58％).The analysis of the combination of syndrome elements showed that the common TCM syndrome types of 240 cases of pSS were deficiency of qi and yin,yin deficiency and phlegm-damp,and yin deficiency with flaring of fire.Conclusion The affection of pSS often involves the liver and lung.In the patients with pSS,yin deficiency and qi deficiency are the most common syndrome elements,and the syndrome elements are usually complex;deficiency of qi and yin is the common type of syndrome.The results indicated that the differentiation and treatment of pSS starting from the syndrome elements will be more targeted.

Objective To investigate the distribution of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)constitution in chronic hepatitis B(CHB)patients complicated with metabolism associated fatty liver disease(MAFLD),and to explore the correlation of the complication of MAFLD with TCM constitution and body composition,thus to determine their predictive values for the complication of MAFLD in CHB patients.Methods A retrospective study was adopted.The study started from the collection of the clinical data of 235 outpatients who attended the Department of Hepatology of Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine from January 2022 to December 2023,and was diagnosed as CHB following the diagnostic criteria.According to the controlled attenuation parameter(CAP)value,134 cases of CHB patients were allocated to the non-MAFLD group(CAP＜238 dB/m)and 101 cases were allocated to the MAFLD group(CAP≥238 dB/m).And then the distribution of TCM constitution in the two groups was observed.In addition,according to the body mass index(BMI)value,the patients were divided into the non-obese group(141 cases,BMI＜24.0 kg/m2)and the overweight/obese group(94 cases,BMI≥24.0 kg/m2).And then the logistic regression was used to analyze the independent risk factors for the complication of MAFLD in CHB patients,multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors,and receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to analyze the predictive value of the influencing factors for the complication of MAFLD in CHB patients and to determine their optimal cut-off values.Results(1)The constitutions of CHB patients in the MAFLD group were predominated by balanced constitution(36.6%),damp-heat constitution(20.8%),and phlegm-damp constitution(14.9%),which accounted for 72.3%in total.(2)In CHB patients complicated with MAFLD,the overweight/obese group had higher levels of γ-glutamyl-transpeptidase(γ-GT),BMI,total body fat mass(TBFM),total muscle mass(TMM),total body water(TBW),interacel1ular water(ICW),extracellular water(ECW),body fat ratio(BFR),visceral fat area(VFA),basal metabolism(BM),and trunk fat mass(TFM)than the non-obese group,and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).(3)The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the white blood cell(WBC)count,blood uric acid(UA),triglyceride(TG),high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C),and VFA were the influencing factors for the complication of MAFLD in the CHB patients in clinic.(4)The results of ROC curve analysis showed that in CHB patients,the areas under the ROC curve(AUC)for age,TG,UA,and VFA were 0.532,0.680,0.738,and 0.859 respectively;the optimal cut-off values of VFA in CHB patients,non-obese CHB patients,and overweight/obese CHB patients were 74.98,66.5 and 112.2 cm2 respectively,and the optimal cut-off values of VFA in patients with balanced constitution,phlegm-damp constitution,and damp-heat constitution were 85.50,66.50,and 74.98 cm2 respectively.The AUC values of VFA in various populations were significantly higher than those of age,TG,and UA,and the combined prediction by multivariate analysis has higher predictive value than that by univariate analysis.Conclusion The AUC value of VFA for predicting the risk of MAFLD is the highest in patients with CHB,and the possibility of the complication of MAFLD increased with the increase of the cut-off point level of VFA.The optimal cut-off values of VFA varies in non-obese group and overweight/obese group of CHB patients and in CHB patients with different TCM constitution.

BACKGROUND:Scaffold materials serve as platforms that provide space and structure,playing a crucial role in the regeneration of cartilage tissue.Scholars from around the world are exploring different approaches to fabricate more ideal scaffold materials. OBJECTIVE:To review the design principles and preparation methods of cartilage scaffolds,and to further explore the advantages and limitations of various preparation methods. METHODS:Literature searches were conducted on the databases of CNKI,WanFang Data,PubMed,and FMRS from 1998 to 2023.The search terms were"cartilage repair,cartilage tissue engineering,cartilage scaffold materials,preparation"in Chinese and English.A total of 57 articles were ultimately reviewed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The articular cartilage has a unique structure and limited self-repair capacity after injury.Even if self-repair occurs,the newly formed cartilage is typically fibrocartilage,which is far inferior to normal articular cartilage in terms of structure and mechanical properties.It is difficult to maintain normal function and often leads to degenerative changes.Currently,the design and fabrication of scaffold materials for cartilage repair need to consider the following aspects:biocompatibility and biodegradability,suitable pore structure and porosity,appropriate mechanical properties,and bioactivity.(2)Research on the preparation of cartilage scaffolds has made significant progress,continuously introducing new preparation methods and optimization strategies.These methods have their advantages and disadvantages,providing more possibilities for customized preparation and functional design of cartilage scaffolds according to specific requirements.

This article summarized the experience of Professor Xiong Jibai,a national TCM master,in treating pulmonary nodules based on the theory of"body fluids and blood stasis mixing"in Huang Di Nei Jing.Professor Xiong Jibai believes that the basic pathogenesis of pulmonary nodules is that"body fluids and blood stasis mixing"accumulate in lung collaterals,and the fundamental pathological factor is phlegm and blood stasis.Xiong's treatment is based on dissipating phlegm and activating qi,activating blood circulation and resolving masses,paying attention to syndrome differentiation and treatment,examining syndromes and seeking causes,flexibly selecting prescriptions and treating both symptoms and root causes;attaching importance to maintaining healthy qi,preventing both illness and change,and preventing recovery after illness.Clinical medical records were attached to prove the clinical thinking and medication characteristics.