1.Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment of Chronic Heart Failure Based on AMPK Signaling Pathway
Kun LIAN ; Lichong MENG ; Xueqin WANG ; Yubin ZHANG ; Lin LI ; Xuhui TANG ; Zhixi HU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(5):139-148
Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a group of complex clinical syndromes caused by abnormal changes in the structure and/or function of the heart due to various reasons, resulting in disorders of ventricular contraction and/or diastole. CHF is a condition where primary diseases such as coronary heart disease, hypertension and pulmonary heart disease recur frequently and persist for a long time, presenting blood stasis in meridians and collaterals, stagnation of water and dampness, and accumulation of Qi in collaterals. Its pathogenesis is complex and may involve myocardial energy metabolism disorders, oxidative stress responses, myocardial cell apoptosis, autophagy, inflammatory responses, etc. According to the theory of restraining hyperactivity to acquire harmony, we believe that under normal circumstances, the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway functions normally, maintaining human physiological activities and energy metabolism. Under pathological conditions, the AMPK signaling pathway is abnormal, causing energy metabolism disorders, inflammatory responses, and myocardial fibrosis. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can regulate the AMPK signaling pathway through multiple mechanisms, targets, and effects, effectively curbing the occurrence and development of CHF. It has gradually become a research hotspot in the prevention and treatment of this disease. Guided by the theory of TCM, our research group, through literature review, summarized the relationship between the AMPK pathway and CHF and reviewed the research progress in the prevention and control of CHF with TCM active ingredients, TCM compound prescriptions, and Chinese patent medicines via regulating the AMPK pathway. The review aims to clarify the mechanism and targets of TCM in the treatment of CHF by regulating the AMPK pathway and guide the clinical treatment and drug development for CHF.
2.Myocardial Metabolomics Reveals Mechanism of Shenfu Injection in Ameliorating Energy Metabolism Remodeling in Rat Model of Chronic Heart Failure
Xinyue NING ; Zhenyu ZHAO ; Mengna ZHANG ; Yang GUO ; Zhijia XIANG ; Kun LIAN ; Zhixi HU ; Lin LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(5):178-186
ObjectiveTo examine the influences of Shenfu injection on the endogenous metabolic byproducts in the myocardium of the rat model exhibiting chronic heart failure, thus deciphering the therapeutic mechanism of the Qi-reinforcing and Yang-warming method. MethodsSD rats were randomly allocated into a control group and a modeling group. Chronic heart failure with heart-Yang deficiency syndrome in rats was modeled by multi-point subcutaneous injection of isoproterenol, and the rats were fed for 14 days after modeling. The successfully modeled rats were randomized into model, Shenfu injection (6.0 mL·kg-1), and trimetazidine (10 mg·kg-1) groups and treated with corresponding agents for 15 days. The control group and the model group were injected with equal doses of normal saline, and the samples were collected after the intervention was completed. Cardiac color ultrasound was performed. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to observe histopathological morphology, and the serum level of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The mitochondrial morphological and structural changes of cardiomyocytes were observed by transmission electron microscopy, and the metabolic profiling was carried out by ultra high performance liquid chromatography-quantitative exactive-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QE-MS). Differential metabolites were screened and identified by orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) and other methods, and then the MetaboAnalyst database was used for further screening. The relevant biological pathways were obtained through pathway enrichment analysis. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was established to evaluate the diagnostic value of each potential biomarker for myocardial injury and the evaluation value for drug efficacy. ResultsThe results of color ultrasound showed that Shenfu Injection improved the cardiac function indexes of model rats (P<0.05). The results of HE staining showed that Shenfu injection effectively alleviated the pathological phenomena such as myocardial tissue structure disorder and inflammatory cell infiltration in model rats. The results of ELISA showed that Shenfu injection effectively regulated the serum NT-proBNP level in the model rats. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that Shenfu injection effectively restored the mitochondrial morphological structure. The results of metabolomics showed that the metabolic phenotypes of myocardial samples presented markedly differences between groups. Nine differential metabolites could be significantly reversed in the Shenfu injection group, involving three metabolic pathways: pyruvate metabolism, histidine metabolism, and citric acid cycle (TCA cycle). The results of ROC analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) values of all metabolites were between 0.75 and 1.0, indicating that the differential metabolites had high diagnostic accuracy for myocardial injury, and the changes in their expression levels could be used as potential markers for efficacy evaluation. ConclusionShenfu injection significantly alleviated the damage of cardiac function, myocardium, and mitochondrial structure in the rat model of chronic heart failure with heart-Yang deficiency syndrome by ameliorating energy metabolism remodeling. Reinforcing Qi and warming Yang is a key method for treating chronic heart failure with heart-Yang deficiency syndrome.
3.Survey on the current status of hospital-associated infection management in 38 non-public medical institutions of China
Jinlan LIN ; Kun LIU ; Xiaoping QING ; Xiaoyue XIE ; Dianxiang ZHANG ; Shuhua LIU ; Jiayin LIU ; Yurong GAO ; Hui TANG
Chinese Journal of Nosocomiology 2025;35(12):1882-1886
OBJECTIVE To investigate the current status and existing issues of hospital-associated infection manage-ment in non-public medical institutions,so as to provide data for the formulation of hospital-associated infec-tion management policies and the construction of a quality evaluation system for hospital-associated infection man-agement in non-public medical institutions.METHODS A qualitative research method was employed.In Dec.2023,semi-structured interviews were conducted with 38 directors of hospital-associated infection management depart-ments in primary,secondary and tertiary non-public medical institutions.The interview data were coded and ana-lyzed by Nvivo 12.0 software to refine themes.RESULTS Three themes were refined:the organizational system for hospital-associated infection management in non-public medical institutions had been basically established,but the division of functions and responsibilities was not yet fully clear,hospital-associated infection management had achieved certain results,including collaborating with other departments to standardize and implement infection control measures,enhancing staff awareness of infection control,and promoting the establishment of organization-al systems.There were issues in infection control works such as insufficient funding,personnel allocation not meeting requirements,and difficulties in implementing infection control measures.The most urgent assis-tance needed was to address the training and professional title promotion for full-time and part-time infection con-trol personnel.CONCLUSION Non-public medical institutions should strengthen staffing and training,enhance the pro-fessional capabilities of infection control personnel,and establish hospital-associated infection management standards that are tailored to the characteristics of non-public medical institutions at all levels.
4.Effect of joint management of type 2 diabetes mellitus between specialty department and community health under National Diabetes Prevention and Control Center (DPCC) model
Ying HUANG ; Yi QIAN ; Xuchi WU ; Zhongyu ZHOU ; Cong WANG ; Lin WANG ; Caiyan HUANG ; Zhuangsen CHEN ; Yanrong ZHANG ; Shanshan WANG ; Lu WANG ; Jie WAN ; Ruihong YANG ; Huiya WANG ; Yan CHEN ; Cheng HE ; Kun FENG ; Dewen YAN
Journal of Chinese Physician 2025;27(3):338-342
Objective:To analyze the effect of joint management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) between specialty and community under the model of National Diabetes Prevention and Control Center (DPCC).Methods:A total of 2 527 T2DM patients managed by DPCC Pingshan Center of Shenzhen from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2024 were retrospectively included. After management, the rate of downturn, reexamination rate, blood pressure compliance rate, metabolic indicators (waist circumference, body mass index, fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, blood lipids) and screening rate of chronic complications of diabetes (atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, microvascular disease, diabetic peripheral neuropathy) were analyzed. Those included 2022 ( n=564), 2023 ( n=1 477), and 2024 ( n=2 527). Results:The downturn rate in 2022, 2023 and 2024 increased year by year (22.8% vs 67.2% vs 89.9%, P<0.01), and the review rate (41.1% vs 62.2% vs 52.7%, P<0.01), complication screening rate (51.6% vs 85.3% vs 62.2%, P<0.01), blood pressure compliance rate (53.1% vs 78.0% vs 67.2%, P<0.01), body mass index compliance rate (13.2% vs 17.3% vs 28.6%, P<0.01), fasting blood glucose meeting rate (46.4% vs 60.2% vs 68.5%, P<0.01), glycated hemoglobin meeting rate (58.4% vs 63.2% vs 45.6%, P<0.01) were relatively improved. Waist circumference compliance rate (30.6% vs 27.7% vs 21.6%) and blood lipid compliance rate (33.6% vs 35.5% vs 31.9%) were not significantly improved, and the review rate, blood pressure compliance rate and complication screening rate in 2024 were lower than those in 2023 and higher than those in 2022. Conclusions:The combined management of type 2 diabetes under the DPCC model has significant effects on improving the down-conversion rate, rediagnosis rate, blood pressure compliance rate, metabolic index compliance rate and the screening rate of diabetes-related chronic complications in patients with diabetes. At the same time, it was also found that with the progress of hierarchical diagnosis and treatment, the review rate, complication screening rate, blood pressure, waist circumference, blood lipid and glycosylated hemoglobin reached the standard of patients decreased compared with the previous situation, which needs to be further analyzed and improved.
5.Survey on the current status of hospital-associated infection management in 38 non-public medical institutions of China
Jinlan LIN ; Kun LIU ; Xiaoping QING ; Xiaoyue XIE ; Dianxiang ZHANG ; Shuhua LIU ; Jiayin LIU ; Yurong GAO ; Hui TANG
Chinese Journal of Nosocomiology 2025;35(12):1882-1886
OBJECTIVE To investigate the current status and existing issues of hospital-associated infection manage-ment in non-public medical institutions,so as to provide data for the formulation of hospital-associated infec-tion management policies and the construction of a quality evaluation system for hospital-associated infection man-agement in non-public medical institutions.METHODS A qualitative research method was employed.In Dec.2023,semi-structured interviews were conducted with 38 directors of hospital-associated infection management depart-ments in primary,secondary and tertiary non-public medical institutions.The interview data were coded and ana-lyzed by Nvivo 12.0 software to refine themes.RESULTS Three themes were refined:the organizational system for hospital-associated infection management in non-public medical institutions had been basically established,but the division of functions and responsibilities was not yet fully clear,hospital-associated infection management had achieved certain results,including collaborating with other departments to standardize and implement infection control measures,enhancing staff awareness of infection control,and promoting the establishment of organization-al systems.There were issues in infection control works such as insufficient funding,personnel allocation not meeting requirements,and difficulties in implementing infection control measures.The most urgent assis-tance needed was to address the training and professional title promotion for full-time and part-time infection con-trol personnel.CONCLUSION Non-public medical institutions should strengthen staffing and training,enhance the pro-fessional capabilities of infection control personnel,and establish hospital-associated infection management standards that are tailored to the characteristics of non-public medical institutions at all levels.
6.Effect of joint management of type 2 diabetes mellitus between specialty department and community health under National Diabetes Prevention and Control Center (DPCC) model
Ying HUANG ; Yi QIAN ; Xuchi WU ; Zhongyu ZHOU ; Cong WANG ; Lin WANG ; Caiyan HUANG ; Zhuangsen CHEN ; Yanrong ZHANG ; Shanshan WANG ; Lu WANG ; Jie WAN ; Ruihong YANG ; Huiya WANG ; Yan CHEN ; Cheng HE ; Kun FENG ; Dewen YAN
Journal of Chinese Physician 2025;27(3):338-342
Objective:To analyze the effect of joint management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) between specialty and community under the model of National Diabetes Prevention and Control Center (DPCC).Methods:A total of 2 527 T2DM patients managed by DPCC Pingshan Center of Shenzhen from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2024 were retrospectively included. After management, the rate of downturn, reexamination rate, blood pressure compliance rate, metabolic indicators (waist circumference, body mass index, fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, blood lipids) and screening rate of chronic complications of diabetes (atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, microvascular disease, diabetic peripheral neuropathy) were analyzed. Those included 2022 ( n=564), 2023 ( n=1 477), and 2024 ( n=2 527). Results:The downturn rate in 2022, 2023 and 2024 increased year by year (22.8% vs 67.2% vs 89.9%, P<0.01), and the review rate (41.1% vs 62.2% vs 52.7%, P<0.01), complication screening rate (51.6% vs 85.3% vs 62.2%, P<0.01), blood pressure compliance rate (53.1% vs 78.0% vs 67.2%, P<0.01), body mass index compliance rate (13.2% vs 17.3% vs 28.6%, P<0.01), fasting blood glucose meeting rate (46.4% vs 60.2% vs 68.5%, P<0.01), glycated hemoglobin meeting rate (58.4% vs 63.2% vs 45.6%, P<0.01) were relatively improved. Waist circumference compliance rate (30.6% vs 27.7% vs 21.6%) and blood lipid compliance rate (33.6% vs 35.5% vs 31.9%) were not significantly improved, and the review rate, blood pressure compliance rate and complication screening rate in 2024 were lower than those in 2023 and higher than those in 2022. Conclusions:The combined management of type 2 diabetes under the DPCC model has significant effects on improving the down-conversion rate, rediagnosis rate, blood pressure compliance rate, metabolic index compliance rate and the screening rate of diabetes-related chronic complications in patients with diabetes. At the same time, it was also found that with the progress of hierarchical diagnosis and treatment, the review rate, complication screening rate, blood pressure, waist circumference, blood lipid and glycosylated hemoglobin reached the standard of patients decreased compared with the previous situation, which needs to be further analyzed and improved.
7.Effects of esketamine-mediated opioid-free anesthesia on delirium in elderly patients after hip replacement
Hao HUA ; Teng HE ; Xin LI ; Xiaodong CHEN ; Zhenqing LIU ; Kun LIU ; Qi ZHANG ; Lin JIANG ; Cunming LIU ; Meng WANG ; Chun YANG
Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics 2025;30(1):78-84
AIM:To observe the effect of opioid-free anesthesia with esketamine on delirium after hip replacement surgery in elderly patients.METH-ODS:One hundred and fourteen elderly patients who underwent hip replacement were randomly di-vided into two groups:opioid-free anesthesia(OFA)group and opioid anesthesia(OA)group(n=57).During anesthesia induction and maintenance,es-ketamine was administered in OFA group,and that fentanyl and remifentanil were administered in OA group.Delirium was mainly recorded within 3 days after the surgeries,and the patients'delirium sta-tus was evaluated using the Chinese Revised Deliri-um Diagnostic Scale(CAM-CR).RESULTS:The pa-tients in OFA group had lower CAM-CR scores and delirium incidence compared to those in the OA group at 2 days after surgery.CONCLUSION:Opioid-free anesthesia based on esketamine can effective-ly reduce delirium after hip replacement in elderly patients.
8.Relationship between postoperative delirium and preoperative frailty in elderly patients undergoing knee or hip arthroplasty
Yizhi LIANG ; Doudou WANG ; Jiahui ZHOU ; Jun ZHANG ; Wenjie KONG ; Kun WANG ; Shuhui HUA ; Yunchao YANG ; Jiahan WANG ; Chuan LI ; Yanan LIN ; Hongyan GONG ; Xu LIN ; Yanlin BI ; Bin WANG
Chinese Journal of Anesthesiology 2025;45(8):942-947
Objective:To evaluate the association between postoperative delirium (POD) and preoperative frailty in elderly patients undergoing knee or hip arthroplasty.Methods:This nested case-control study utilized medical records from elderly patients who underwent knee or hip arthroplasty under combined spinal-epidural anesthesia at Qingdao Municipal Hospital between September 2021 and May 2023. Participants were divided into 2 groups based on clinically diagnosed POD: POD group ( n=53) and non-POD group ( n=256). Univariate analysis was conducted on suspected influencing factors, and logistic regression analysis was utilized to identify the risk factors for POD. Receiver operating characteristic and clinical decision curves were plotted to evaluate the predictive performance of these risk factors for POD. Mediation analysis was performed, and a clinically applicable nomogram was constructed to achieve visual prediction of outcomes. Results:There were statistically significant differences in age, preoperative frailty, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification, Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale scores, and concentrations of Aβ 42, Aβ 40, phosphorylated tau protein (p-tau protein) and tau protein, Aβ 42/tau ratio and Aβ 42/p-tau ratio in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) between non-POD group and POD group ( P<0.05). Preoperative frailty was a risk factor for POD ( P<0.05). Mediation analysis revealed that the association between preoperative frailty and POD was mediated by CSF tau protein concentrations. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of preoperative frailty and CSF biomarker concentrations in predicting POD was 0.974 ( P<0.05). The clinical decision curve demonstrated that the model combining the preoperative frailty and CSF biomarker concentrations predicted a higher net benefit ( P<0.05). The clinical decision curve showed that the model combining preoperative frailty and CSF biomarker concentrations predicted a higher net benefit. Conclusions:Preoperative frailty is a risk factor for POD in elderly patients undergoing knee or hip arthroplasty, and its combination with CSF biomarker concentrations can effectively predict the occurrence of POD. CSF tau concentration mediates the association between preoperative frailty and development of POD.
9.Cardiomyocyte Apoptosis in Chronic Heart Failure and Traditional Chinese Medicine Intervention
Kun LIAN ; Peiyao LI ; Zhiguang SONG ; Jianhang ZHANG ; Junxian LEI ; Lin LI ; Zhixi HU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(16):165-172
Chronic heart failure is the terminal stage of various cardiovascular diseases, and cardiomyocyte apoptosis is the turning point of decompensation. Studies have shown that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) could regulate apoptosis-related signaling pathways and factors and inhibit or up-regulate the expression of apoptosis-related proteins. Thus, TCM can reduce cardiomyocyte apoptosis, protect the myocardial tissue and improve the cardiac function, demonstrating remarkable clinical effects. In recent years, the research on the treatment of chronic heart failure based on the inhibition of cardiomyocyte apoptosis is increasing and becomes the current research hotspot. On the basis of literature review, this paper discovers that TCM regulates apoptosis factors and multiple signaling pathways to inhibit apoptosis and inflammation and delay the progression of chronic heart failure through classical pathways such as the death receptor pathway, the mitochondrial pathway, and the endoplasmic reticulum pathway. At the same time, the studies in this field have the following problems: Repeated studies with shallow, simple, and fragmented contents, treating animal models with TCM prescriptions without syndrome differentiation, treating diseases with drugs at only one concentration which is insufficient to indicate efficacy, and lacking comprehensive, holistic, and systematic studies on the relationships of apoptosis with inflammatory responses, pyroptosis, ferroptosis, and autophagy. In the future, more scientific, reasonable, comprehensive, and feasible experimental schemes should be designed on the basis of comprehensively mastering the research progress in this field, and the communication and cooperation between researchers in different disciplines should be strengthened. The specific pathological mechanism of cardiomyocyte apoptosis in chronic heart failure and the signaling pathways, active components, and action targets of TCM in inhibiting cardiomyocyte apoptosis in chronic heart failure should be elucidated. Such efforts are expected to provide sufficient reference for the clinical treatment of chronic heart failure.
10.Bone cement injection during percutaneous curved vertebroplasty in treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures in the upper 1/3 of the vertebral body
Tangbo LI ; Nan ZHANG ; Guobing HAO ; Kun LIU ; Lin QIAO ; Zexing ZHU ; Diyu SONG
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(28):5977-5984
BACKGROUND:Percutaneous curved vertebroplasty has the advantages of minimal trauma and bone cement dispersion,but whether it is safe and effective for the treatment of compression fractures in the upper 1/3 of the vertebral body needs further study.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the clinical efficacy of percutaneous curved vertebroplasty in the treatment of the upper 1/3 compression fractures of the osteoporotic vertebrae.METHODS:Medical records of 66 patients with osteoporotic thoracolumbar upper 1/3 compression fracture admitted to Department of Orthopedics of PLA Rocket Force Characteristic Medical Center from January 2020 to June 2023 were retrospectively analyzed.Among them,32 cases were treated with percutaneous curved vertebroplasty(observation group)and 34 cases were treated with"noncoplanar bipedicular puncture"percutaneous vertebroplasty(control group).Pain visual analog scale score,Oswestry Disability Index,anterior edge height of injured vertebra,and Cobb angle of injured vertebra were compared and analyzed between the two groups before surgery,the first day after surgery,and the last follow-up.The operative time,bone cement leakage rate,bone cement injection volume,and bone cement dispersion score of the two groups were statistically analyzed.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The operations were successfully completed in both groups of patients,and no complications such as bone cement allergy,bone cement embolism,nerve damage,or epidural hematoma occurred.(2)Pain visual analog scale score,Oswestry disability index,anterior edge height,and Cobb angle of injured vertebra of the two groups at the first day after surgery and the last follow-up were all better than those before surgery,with statistically significant difference(P<0.05),but there was no statistical significance between the two groups(P>0.05).The Oswestry disability index of the two groups at the last follow-up was better than that on the first day after surgery(P<0.05).(3)The operation time and bone cement leakage rate of the observation group were lower than those of the control group,and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).(4)There were no significant differences in bone cement injection volume and bone cement dispersion score between the two groups(P>0.05).(5)The results show that percutaneous curved vertebroplasty in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebrae compression fractures in the upper 1/3 of the vertebral body can effectively relieve pain,maintain vertebral height,and reduce operative time and bone cement leakage rate.

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