1.Relationship between NLR and Hcy and the risk of coronary artery lesion progression in patients with hypertension
Jibiao LIN ; Ling YE ; Ruiying LUO ; Zirong FANG
Journal of Public Health and Preventive Medicine 2026;37(1):121-125
Objective To investigate the relationship of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and homocysteine (Hcy) with risk of coronary artery lesion progression in patients with hypertension. Methods The data of 306 patients with hypertension who received coronary angiography from January 2020 to January 2025 were included for retrospective investigation. The patients were divided into a non-progression group (175 cases) and a progression group (131 cases) based on the 6-month Gensini progression rate. The relationship between NLR and Hcy and coronary artery lesion progression was analyzed. Results Binary logistic regression analysis was applied to control confounding factors. After adjusting for confounding factors using Model1, Model2, and Model3, it was found that NLR and Hcy at admission were independently associated with the progression of coronary artery lesion in hypertensive patients [adjusted OR (95% CI) = 1.77 (1.48-2.11), 4.26 (2.71-6.69), P<0.001]. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve revealed that the area under the curve of the combination of Hcy and NLR was 0.814 in predicting the progression of coronary artery lesion in hypertensive patients, which was higher than that of Hcy or NLR (Z/P=5.328, 2.077/<0.05). Conclusion Cardiovascular disease risk factors NLR and Hcy are independently associated with coronary artery lesion progression in patients with hypertension. Early detection of NLR and Hcy is helpful to predict the progression of coronary artery lesion.
2.Discussion on the Treatment of Insomnia from Liver Based on the Theory "Liver Governs Wei Qi (Defensive Qi)"
Zirong LI ; Miaoran WANG ; Yufei WU ; Tian NI ; Xianbei WANG ; Hongjin DU ; Jiwei ZHANG ; Qiuyan LI
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(4):411-415
Psychological factors have become significant contributors to the onset and progression of insomnia. This article explored the treatment of insomnia from the perspective of “liver governs wei qi (defensive qi)”. The concept of “liver governs wei qi (defensive qi)” is summarized in three aspects, firstly, the liver assists the spleen and stomach in transformation and transportation, governing the generation of wei qi; secondly, the liver aids lung qi diffusion and dispersion, governing the distribution of wei qi; thirdly, the liver regulates circadian rhythms, governing the circulation of wei qi. It is proposed that the clinical treatment of insomnia should focus on the following methods: for regulating the liver to harmonize the five viscera, and facilitate the circulation of wei qi, medicinals entering the liver channel include Chaihu (Bupleuri radix), Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), Zhizi (Gardeniae Fructus), and Suanzaoren (Ziziphi Spinosae Semen) could be commonly used; for nourishing the liver, the treatment should align with the day-night rhythm, and herbs such as Baihe (Lilium), Hehuan (Albizia julibrissin), and Yejiaoteng (Polygoni multiflori caulis) are commonly used; for soothing the liver and address both mental and physical health to calm wei qi, treatment should advocate verbal counseling, psychological regulation, and health education. Ultimately, this treatment approach can free liver qi to flow, soothe qi movement, restore the motion of wei qi, regulate during day and night, balance yin and yang, and resolve insomnia effectively.
3.Construction of a prognostic model for breast cancer based on lipid metabolism-related genes and functional verification of ALDH2.
Zirong LU ; Yufeng LU ; Ji ZHOU ; Yichao ZHU
Journal of Zhejiang University. Medical sciences 2025;():1-10
OBJECTIVES:
To investigate the expression patterns and prognostic value of lipid metabolism-related genes in breast cancer.
METHODS:
RNA sequencing data and clinical information were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas breast cancer (TCGA-BRCA) dataset, including 1100 breast cancer tissue samples (18 paired with adjacent tissues) and 112 normal breast tissue samples. Differentially expressed lipid metabolism-related genes were screened from a predefined set of 2043 genes using Bioconductor in R, with a false discovery rate <0.05 and |log2(fold change)|>2. Eligible samples were randomly divided into a training cohort (n=651) and a validation cohort (n=431) at a 6∶4 ratio. Prognostic lipid metabolism-related genes were identified using univariate Cox regression (P<0.005) and further refined via LASSO regression. A risk score model was constructed using multivariate Cox regression, and patients were stratified into high- and low-risk groups based on the median risk score. The model's performance was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis with the log-rank test and time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. A nomogram integrating age, TNM stage, clinical grade, and risk score was developed and validated using calibration curves and the concordance index. Immune cell infiltration was quantified using an immune scoring algorithm, and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was applied to identify key modules associated with immune cell infiltration. Finally, to validate the function of the key gene ALDH2, small interfering RNA targeting ALDH2 was transfected into breast cancer cells, and its effects on invasion and migration were assessed using Transwell invasion and wound healing assays.
RESULTS:
A total of 185 differentially expressed lipid metabolism-related genes were identified. Univariate Cox and LASSO regression analyses identified three genes-ALDH2, CYP21A2, and IL24-which were incorporated into the multivariate Cox model. The prognostic model based on these genes demonstrated good predictive performance in both cohorts: patients in the high-risk group had significantly shorter overall survival (P<0.01), and the area under the ROC curve for predicting 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates was above 0.64. Analysis of the tumor microenvironment revealed an immunosuppressive phenotype in the high-risk group, characterized by reduced infiltration of several anti-tumor immune cells and downregulation of key immune checkpoint molecules such as PDCD1 and CTLA4. WGCNA suggested an association between ALDH2 and immune cell infiltration. Functional experi-ments confirmed that ALDH2 knockdown significantly enhanced the migration and invasion abilities of breast cancer cells.
CONCLUSIONS
This study established and validated a pro-gnostic model for breast cancer based on lipid metabolism-related genes. It revealed that low ALDH2 expression is closely associated with poor prognosis and immunosuppression, suggesting its potential as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in breast cancer.
4.Visualization analysis on research hotspots and trends of TCM compound disassembly analysis based on CiteSpace
Mengxuan LI ; Mengjie ZHAO ; Wantong ZHANG ; Yufei WU ; Zirong LI ; Weiliang WENG ; Qiuyan LI
International Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;47(9):1293-1300
Objective:To visually analyze the research literature on the analysis of TCM compounds; To explore the research hotspots and trends in this field.Methods:The literature related to the disassembly analysis of TCM compounds was retrieved from CNKI, Chongqing VIP, Wanfang Data, SinoMed, and China Medical Journal Full-text Database from January 1, 1981 to December 31, 2024. CiteSpace 6.4.R1 software was used to visualize the number of articles, authors, institutions and keywords, and to draw the cooperation network diagram of authors and institutions, keyword co-occurrence, clustering, timeline and burst map.Results:A total of 1 728 Chinese articles were included, and the number of publications showed a fluctuating upward trend. A comparatively high number of publications was in 2007 and 2016, followed by a slight decline but maintained at a high level. There is a trend of recovery in 2024. The author with the highest number of articles was Professor Fang Zhaoqin, and the institution with the highest number of articles was Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. High frequency keywords included rats, compatibility, experimental research, cell apoptosis, TCM compound, and a total of 19 clusters and 25 emergent keywords were formed.Conclusions:The research contents and methods of the research on the disassembly of TCM compounds are relatively rich, and there are many explorations on classical prescriptions. The study of disassembled prescriptions has played a driving role in the modernization of TCM compounds. In the future, high-quality cooperation between regions, institutions, and authors, combination with modern medicine and scientific methods, will further improve the quality of research in this field.
5.Clinical study on Xinyue Decoction combined with fluoxetine hydrochloride in the treatment of cognitive impairment in senile depression
Yufei WU ; Qiuyan LI ; Zirong LI ; Xiaosen ZHAO ; Qian ZHOU ; Qiaoru KOU ; Yuehua LI ; Mingdong GUO
International Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;47(11):1514-1520
Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of Xinyue Decoction combined with fluoxetine hydrochloride in the treatment of cognitive impairment of senile depression.Methods:A randomized controlled trial study was conducted. Totally 116 elderly patients with depression accompanied by cognitive impairment were set as observation subjects, and were divided into a control group and an experimental group using random number table method, with 58 patients in each. The control group received treatment with fluoxetine hydrochloride capsules, while the experimental group was administered Xinyue Decoction Granules in addition to the treatment regimen of the control group. The treatment lasted for 8 weeks for both groups. Comparison was made between the two groups regarding the changes in TCM syndrome scores. Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD-24) was used to assess the degree of depression, and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA BJ) was used to assess cognitive ability; the serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α were detected by ELISA; the adverse reactions during treatment were observed and recorded, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated.Results:The total effective rate of TCM syndromes was 90.4% (47/52) in the experimental group and 75.5% (40/53) in the control group, with statistical significance ( χ2=4.11, P<0.05); the total effective rate of MoCA-BJ was 76.9% (40/52) in the experimental group and 58.5% (31/53) in the control group, with statistical significance ( χ2=4.61, P<0.05); the total effective rate of HAMD-24 was 88.5% (46/52) in the experimental group and 71.7% (38/53) in the control group, with statistical significance ( χ2=4.07, P<0.05). After treatment, the TCM syndrome score, HAMD-24 and MoCA-BJ scores of the experimental group were lower than those in the control group ( t=-3.51, -5.11, 2.39, P<0.01 or P<0.05); the level of serum BDNF [(10.49±1.76) ng/L vs. (9.61±1.85) ng/L, t=2.28] in the observation group was higher than that of the control group ( P<0.05), and the levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α were lower than those in the control group ( t=-2.50, -2.46, -2.18, P<0.05). During the treatment, the incidence of adverse reactions was 5.77% (3/52) in the experimental group and 7.55% (4/53) in the control group, without statistical significance ( χ2=0.13, P>0.05). Conclusion:Xinyue Decoction combined with fluoxetine hydrochloride can reduce the degree of depression in elderly patients with cognitive impairment of depression, improve the cognitive ability of patients and clinical efficacy.
6.Analysis of Inhibitory Effect of Berberine Compounds on Acetylcholinesterase and Blood-brain Barrier Permeability
Fulu PAN ; Yang LIU ; Huining LIU ; Shuang YU ; Xueyan LI ; Xinyu WANG ; Dongying QI ; Xiaoyu CHAI ; Qianqian WANG ; Zirong YI ; Yanli PAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(9):116-124
ObjectiveTo examine the inhibitory effects of berberine compounds, including columbamine, on acetylcholinesterase from the perspectives of drug-target binding affinity and kinetics and explore the blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability of these compounds in different multi-component backgrounds. MethodThe median inhibitory concentration (IC50) of acetylcholinesterase by berberine compounds including columbamine was measured using the Ellman-modified spectrophotometric method. The binding kinetic parameters (Koff) of these compounds with acetylcholinesterase were determined using the enzyme activity recovery method. A qualitative analysis of the ability of these components to penetrate the BBB and arrive at the brain tissue in diverse multi-component backgrounds (including medicinal herbs and compound formulas) was conducted using ultra performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-HRMS). ResultBerberine compounds, including columbamine, exhibited strong inhibition of acetylcholinesterase, with IC50 values in the nanomolar range. Moreover, they displayed better drug-target binding kinetics characteristics (with smaller Koff values) than the positive control of donepezil hydrochloride (P<0.01), indicating a longer inhibition duration of acetylcholinesterase. Berberine components such as columbamine could penetrate the BBB to arrive at brain tissue in the form of a monomer, as well as in the multi-component backgrounds of Coptis and Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex medicinal extracts and the compound formula Huanglian Jiedutang. ConclusionThese berberine compounds such as columbamine exhibit a strong inhibitory effect on acetylcholinesterase and can arrive at brain tissue in multi-component backgrounds. In the level of pharmacological substance, this supports the clinical efficacy of compound Huanglian Jiedutang in improving Alzheimer's disease, providing data support for elucidating the pharmacological basis of compound Huanglian Jiedutang.
7.Distribution of traditional Chinese medicine constitution and related influential factors in 450 patients with impaired glucose tolerance
Zirong LI ; Qiaoli YANG ; Yu XIE ; Shangjian LIU
Journal of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;47(4):459-465
Objective We aimed to study the distribution of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)constitution and related influencing factors in patients with impaired glucose tolerance(IGT).Methods A cross-sectional study method was used to enroll IGT patients who attended one of eight collaborating units across China between January and August 2021.Basic information was recorded,physical and laboratory examinations were completed,and the data on TCM constitution were collected according to the"classification and determination table of TCM constitution."Finally,patient information was entered into an Excel table,and the data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0.Results Among the 450 patients,a balanced constitution accounted for 37.3%,yang-deficiency constitution for 15.6%,phlegm-dampness constitution for 14.4%,and dampness-heat constitution for 10.9%.Among the biased constitutions,the proportion of men with dampness-heat constitution was higher than that of women,and the proportion of women with yang-deficiency constitution and blood stasis constitution was significantly higher than that of men(P<0.05).The triglyceride level of patients with phlegm-dampness constitution was higher than that of patients with yang-deficiency constitution(P<0.05);the HDL-cholestrol level of patients with yang-deficiency constitution was higher than that of patients with phlegm-dampness constitution(P<0.05);and the uric acid level of patients with phlegm-dampness constitution,dampness-heat constitution,or yin-deficiency constitution was higher than that of patients with yang-deficiency constitution,and the UA level was the highest in patients with dampness-heat constitution(P<0.05).Conclusion The distribution of TCM constitution in IGT patients was dominated by balanced constitution,followed by yang-deficiency constitution,phlegm-dampness constitution,and dampness-heat constitution.Gender,blood lipid levels,and UA levels were the main factors affecting the constitution status of IGT patients.
8.Analysis of the pre-metabolic disease state based on the theory of "overflow of Wu Qi"
Qing HE ; Zirong LI ; Qiaoli YANG ; Jing LIN ; Guangqi WANG ; Jin QIN ; Shangjian LIU
International Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;46(3):278-282
The pre-metabolic disease state is the body state of substance metabolism disorder that has not yet reached the physical and chemical indicators of the disease, and abnormal glucose metabolism is often the key link of metabolic disorder. In TCM, the healthy function of the spleen is the cornerstone of the production and distribution of fine substances. This article discussed the pre-metabolic disease state based on the theory of "overflow of Five Qi" in the Nei Jing, taking the loss of spleen preparedness as the starting point, in order to provide new ideas and directions for the prevention and treatment of clinical metabolic diseases.
9.Development of an experience scale for patients with chronic wound debridement and dressing
Yanping SHI ; Ling TIAN ; Zhifei LIU ; Wei ZHANG ; Tianqi LIU ; Jinna WANG ; Siming JIANG ; Yanan CUI ; Zirong LI
Chinese Journal of Medical Aesthetics and Cosmetology 2024;30(3):213-217
Objective:To develop and evaluate a medical experience assessment scale for debridement and dressing change in chronic wound patients in China, and to provide a reference for improving hospital service quality.Methods:Based on the framework of hospital consumer assessment of healthcare providers and systems survey (HCAHPS) in the United States, a preliminary draft of the scale was formed through a literature review and qualitative interviews with 12 chronic wound patients (7 males and 5 females aged 58.1±12.3 years). Five experts were invited for content validity testing, and 191 chronic wound patients (111 males and 80 females aged 53.5±19.1 years) were selected to evaluate the internal consistency reliability, half reliability, retest reliability, and structural validity of the scale.Results:The Chronic Wound Patient Debridement and Dressing Experience Scale covered 5 dimensions with 30 sub-items and 2 comprehensive evaluation items, including demand response, good and friendly communication, professional trust, optimization of the medical treatment process, and encouragement of patient participation. The scale Cronbach′s α coefficient was 0.967 and ranged from 0.890 to 0.962 for each dimension. The overall retest reliability of the scale was 0.940 and ranged from 0.895 to 0.940 for each dimension. The overall half reliability of the scale was 0.923 and ranged from 0.834 to 0.935 for each dimension. 5 factors were extracted, with a cumulative variance contribution rate of 82.061%.Conclusions:Based on the HCAHPS framework in the United States, the Chronic Wound Debridement and Dressing Experience Scale developed has high reliability and validity, and can be used to evaluate the dressing change experience of patients with chronic wounds. It has clinical practice significance for dressing change in chronic wounds.
10.Advances in signal pathways related to pulp regeneration mediated by exosomes
Zirong CHEN ; Hua TU ; Leyi CHEN ; Wen'an XU
STOMATOLOGY 2024;44(10):775-779
Exosomes are a kind of extracellular vesicles,which directly stimulate target cells through receptor-mediated interaction,or exert their biological functions by transferring various bioactive molecules to target cells,playing a key role in intercellular communi-cation between cells and their microenvironment.From the perspective of tissue engineering,pulp regeneration refers to the combination of scaffolds,stem cells,and signaling factors implanted into a properly treated pulp cavity.Under the action of scaffolds and signaling factors,stem cells proliferate and differentiate to form pulp dentin-like complexes,restoring pulp function.In recent years,studies have found that p38MAPK,TGF-β/SMAD,Wnt/β-Catenin signaling pathway and some other signaling pathways are important for the se-cretion in regulating pulp regeneration,and play a key role in pulp regeneration.Therefore,this article reviews the mechanism and re-search progress of signaling pathways related to the regulation of pulp regeneration by exosomes.


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