1.Shenfu Injection Improve Chronic Heart Failure by Regulates Glycolytic Pathway Mediated by HIF-1α/PFKFB3 Pathway
Ji OUYANG ; Kun LIAN ; Xiaoqian LIAO ; Lichong MENG ; Lin LI ; Zhenyu ZHAO ; Zhixi HU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(16):136-145
ObjectiveThis study aims to explore the mechanism and targets of Shenfu Injection in regulating glycolysis to intervene in myocardial fibrosis in chronic heart failure based on the hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α)/ 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3) signaling pathway. MethodsA rat model of chronic heart failure was established by subcutaneous injection of isoproterenol (ISO). After successful modeling, the rats were randomly divided into the Sham group, Model group, Shenfu injection (SFI, 6 mL·kg-1) group, and inhibitor (3PO, 35 mg·kg-1) group, according to a random number table, and they were treated for 15 days. Cardiac function was evaluated by echocardiography, and serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Fasting body weight and heart weight were measured, and the heart index (HI) was calculated. Pathological changes in myocardial tissue were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and Masson staining, and the fibrosis rate was calculated. Biochemical assays were used to determine serum levels of glucose (GLU), lactic acid (LA), and pyruvic acid (PA). Western blot was used to analyze the expression of proteins related to the HIF-1α/PFKFB3 signaling pathway (HIF-1α and PFKFB3), glycolysis-related proteins (HK1, HK2, PKM2, and LDHA), and fibrosis-related proteins [transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and Collagen type Ⅰ α1 (ColⅠA1)]. Real-time PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of HIF-1α and PFKFB3 in myocardial tissue. ResultsCompared with the Sham group, the Model group showed significantly decreased left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular shortening fraction (LVFS), interventricular septal thickness (IVSd), and interventricular septal strain (IVSs) (P<0.05), while left ventricular internal dimension at end-diastole (LVDd) and end-systole (LVIDs) were increased (P<0.05). Serum NT-proBNP levels were significantly increased (P<0.01), and body weight was decreased. Heart weight was increased, and the HIT index was increased (P<0.05). Myocardial tissue exhibited inflammatory cell infiltration and collagen fiber deposition, and the fibrosis rate was significantly increased (P<0.05). Serum GLU was decreased (P<0.05), while LA and PA levels were increased (P<0.05). Protein expressions of HIF-1α, PFKFB3, HK1, HK2, PKM2, LDHA, TGF-β1, α-SMA, and ColⅠA1, as well as the mRNA expression of HIF-1α and PFKFB3 were increased (P<0.05). Compared with the Model group, both the SFI group and 3PO groups showed significant improvements in LVEF, LVFS, IVSd, and IVSs (P<0.05) and decreases in LVDd, LVIDs, and NT-proBNP levels (P<0.05). Body weight was significantly increased. Heart weight was significantly decreased, and the HIT index was significantly decreased (P<0.05). Inflammatory cell infiltration, collagen fiber deposition, and the fibrosis rate were significantly decreased (P<0.05). Serum GLU levels were significantly increased (P<0.05), while LA and PA levels were decreased (P<0.05). Expressions of glycolysis-related proteins, fibrosis-related proteins, and HIF-1α/PFKFB3 pathway-related proteins and mRNAs were significantly suppressed (P<0.05). ConclusionSFI improves cardiac function in chronic heart failure by downregulating the expression of HIF-1α/PFKFB3 signaling pathway-related proteins, regulating glycolysis, and inhibiting myocardial fibrosis.
2.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.
3.Correlation between preoperative plasma fibrin degradation products level and clinicopathological features in patients with non-small cell lung cancer
Juanjuan CHE ; Jing WANG ; Mu HU ; Hongchao ZHEN ; Haishan LIN ; Kun SHANG ; Bangwei CAO
Cancer Research and Clinic 2024;36(1):1-5
Objective:To investigate the relationship between preoperative plasma fibrin degradation products (FDP) level and clinicopathological features of patients with completely resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Methods:A retrospective case series study was performed. The clinical data of 521 patients who were pathologically diagnosed with NSCLC in Beijing Friendship Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University from January 2016 to December 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. Among 521 cases, 406 cases were postoperatively pathologically confirmed as non-lymph node and non-distant metastasis (non-metastasis group) and 115 cases were postoperatively pathologically confirmed as lymph node or distant metastasis (metastasis group). The preoperative FDP level and clinicopathological characteristics as well as the clinicopathological characteristics of NSCLC patients with different FDP levels were compared between the two groups. The correlation between preoperative FDP level and TNM staging was analyzed by using Spearman correlation analysis.Results:Among 521 NSCLC patients, 266 cases were female, 255 cases were male; the age [ M( Q1, Q3)] was 59 years (54 years, 65 years); 441 cases were adenocarcinoma and 70 cases were squamous cell carcinoma. The preoperative median FDP level was 2.78 mg/L (2.35 mg/L, 3.13 mg/L) and 2.99 mg/L (2.56 mg/L, 4.16 mg/L), respectively of NSCLC patients in non-metastasis group and metastasis group, and the difference was statistically significant ( Z = 6.13, P < 0.001). The preoperative FDP level was 2.56 mg/L (2.35 mg/L, 3.20 mg/L) and 2.99 mg/L (2.56 mg/L, 3.20 mg/L), respectively in the early-stage NSCLC (stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ) and advanced NSCLC (stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ) patients, and the difference was statistically significant ( Z = 8.42, P < 0.001). Spearman correlation analysis showed that preoperative FDP level was positively correlated with tumor diameter ( r = 0.287, P < 0.001). There was a positive correlation between preoperative FDP level and the number of metastatic lymph nodes in 115 patients with lymph node metastasis ( r = 0.679, P < 0.001). According to the preoperative median FDP (2.78 mg/L), all patients were divided into FDP ≤2.78 mg/L group and FDP >2.78 mg/L, and there were statistically significant differences in age, metastasis, tumor staging, tumor diameter, the metastatic number of lymph node and histological types of NSCLC patients in both groups (all P < 0.05). Conclusions:The increase of preoperative plasma FDP level may be related to the tumor metastasis and clinical stage of NSCLC patients
4.Discussion on the Scientific Connotation of"Reinforcing Yang from Yin"Method in the Treatment of Chronic Heart Failure Based on Mitochondrial Energy Metabolism
Fei WANG ; Senjie ZHONG ; Xinchun LI ; Kun LIAN ; Lin LI ; Zhixi HU
Chinese Journal of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;31(1):6-10
Chronic heart failure is the final stage of various cardiovascular diseases,and mitochondrial energy metabolism disorders have been proved to play an important role in the development of chronic heart failure.TCM believes that heart yin is the material basis of heart yang(qi),and deficiency of heart yang(qi)is the core pathogenesis of chronic heart failure.Based on mitochondrial energy metabolism,this article expounded the scientific connotation of"reinforcing yang from yin"in the treatment of chronic heart failure from the aspects of theoretical connotation,pathogenesis,pathophysiological relationship and modern research.In-depth study at the microscopic level demonstrated that the application of"reinforcing yang from yin"method can effectively improve the reconstruction of heart energy substrate(yin),enhance mitochondrial function,and finally provide energy support(yang),which could offer ideas for theoretical research and clinical prevention and treatment of chronic heart failure.
5.A community-based serological cohort study on incidence of seasonal influenza virus infection in Macheng city from winter 2019 to spring 2020
Jinsong FAN ; Jianbo ZHAN ; Yue CHEN ; Shaobo DONG ; Jian LU ; Junfeng GUO ; Xiaojing LIN ; Yu LAN ; Kun QIN ; Jianfang ZHOU ; Bing HU ; Cuiling XU
Chinese Journal of Experimental and Clinical Virology 2024;38(3):311-318
Objective:To determine incidence of seasonal influenza virus infection in the community and to analyze the factors influencing seasonal influenza virus infection.Methods:This study recruited residents aged 6-59 years to build a cohort in 15 villages/streets in Macheng city in November 2019. Meanwhile, a cross-sectional baseline survey was conducted immediately to collect sera, information on demographics and child protection knowledge, behaviors, as well as attitudes using a questionnaire from the participants enrolled in the cohort (i.e., before the influenza epidemic season). In July 2020, a cross-sectional follow-up survey was conducted to collect sera once again (i.e., after the influenza season). Paired sera from the two cross-sectional surveys were tested for influenza virus-specific antibodies by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) test or micro-neutralization (MN) test using a circulating representative strain of each subtype/lineage of influenza virus as the test antigen. The infections with influenza virus subtype/lineage was confirmed if there was a four-fold or more increase in titers of antibodies against circulating representative strain of the subtype/lineage of influenza virus. Factors influencing infection with influenza A (H3N2) and B/Victoria viruses were analyzed using univariable and multivariable logistic regression.Results:In November 2019, 800 study participants were enrolled in the cohort, including 340 children aged 6-17 years and 460 adults aged 18-59 years; 605 study participants (including 224 children and 381 adults) were followed up in July 2020 and their paired sera were obtained before and after the influenza season. 25.3% (153/605) of the participants were confirmed to be infected with at least one subtype/lineage of seasonal influenza virus by HI and MN tests. The overall incidence of influenza viruses of all subtypes/lineages in children was 44.2% (95% CI: 37.6%-50.8%) which was significantly higher than the incidence of 14.1% in adults (95% CI: 10.7%-17.7%). Children had the highest incidence of influenza A (H3N2) virus infection, followed by B/Victoria. MN or HI antibody titers in A (H3N2)[ OR=0.88 (95% CI: 0.84-0.93)] and B/Victoria[ OR=0.97 (95% CI: 0.95-0.99)] before the influenza season were significantly associated with whether children were infected with that subtype/lineage of influenza virus. Conclusions:The residents aged 6-59 years in Macheng city had a substantial incidence of seasonal influenza virus infection during the influenza season from winter 2019 to spring 2020. Notably, almost half of children aged 6-17 years have been infected with seasonal influenza virus. Higher titers of HI/MN antibodies against seasonal influenza virus before the influenza season would be likely to reduce the risk of infection with influenza A (H3N2) and B/Victoria.
6.Traditional Chinese Medicine Intervenes in Chronic Heart Failure Progression by Regulating NF-κB Signaling Pathway: A Review
Kun LIAN ; Ying DENG ; Siqin TANG ; Lin LI ; Ting WANG ; Zhixi HU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(21):243-251
Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a clinical syndrome resulting from damage to the myocardium, leading to changes in the function or structure of the heart and causing reduced pumping and/or filling capacity. Its pathogenesis is complex, potentially involving myocardial fibrosis, apoptosis and autophagy of cardiomyocytes, inflammatory responses, oxidative stress, and myocardial remodeling. Our team believes that the fundamental pathogenesis of CHF is heart-Qi deficiency, with the disease location in the heart, which is closely related to other organs. Due to heart-Qi deficiency, blood circulation weakens, leading to blood stasis, which in turn generates water-dampness and phlegm turbidity that accumulate over time and become toxic. The interaction between water stasis, Qi stagnation, blood stasis, and phlegm toxicity further weakens the body, creating a vicious cycle (deficiency, stasis, water retention, and toxicity) that is difficult to resolve. Under physiological conditions, the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway functions normally, maintaining vital activities and immune responses. However, in pathological states, the NF-κB signaling pathway becomes imbalanced, triggering inflammatory responses and other issues. Research has shown that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can regulate the NF-κB signaling pathway through multiple pathways, targets, and effects, effectively improving the progression of CHF. As a result, this has become a research hotspot for the prevention and treatment of the disease. Guided by TCM theory, this research group reviewed the literature to summarize the activation pathways of the NF-κB pathway and its interactions with other pathways. Additionally, the group summarized the research progress on the regulation of the NF-κB pathway in the treatment of CHF using Chinese medicines, their active ingredients, Chinese medicine compounds, and Chinese patent medicines. This study is expected to clarify the mechanisms and targets by which TCM treats CHF by regulating the NF-κB pathway, thereby guiding clinical treatment and drug development for CHF.
7.Clinical Research Progress in TCM Intervention in "Psycho-cardiological Disease"
Kun LIAN ; Lin LI ; Bo NING ; Siyuan HU ; Yanjie LU ; Zhixi HU
Chinese Journal of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;31(7):188-192
In recent years,with the increase of social pressure,the incidence of"psycho-cardiological disease"increases.Western medicine mainly uses conventional cardiovascular drugs combined with antidepressant or anxiety drugs.TCM has the characteristics of multi-pathway,multi-target,multi-mechanism,integration and low toxicity.It has unique advantages in the intervention of"psycho-cardiological disease"and has significant clinical efficacy.However,the pathogenesis,clinical diagnosis,syndrome differentiation and treatment of this disease are not the same.This article summarized relevant literature and reviewed the etiology,pathogenesis,experience in syndrome differentiation and treatment,and clinical research of this disease from the perspective of TCM,in order to provide reference for diagnosis of disease,precision treatment and improvement of curative efficacy of"psycho-cardiological disease".
8.Visualization Analysis on Literature of Ligustri Lucidi Fructus from 1994 to 2023
Kun LIAN ; Ji OUYANG ; Yuehang XU ; Lin LI ; Zhixi HU
Chinese Journal of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;31(12):70-76
Objective To analyze the research situation and trend of Ligustri Lucidi Fructus through bibliometric method;To provide reference for related research.Methods The literature on Ligustri Lucidi Fructus included in CNKI,VIP,Wanfang Data,CBM,Web of Science and PubMed from January 1,1994 to August 13,2023 was retrieved.NoteExpress 3.6.0.9155 software was used to manage and screen the literature.The publication time trend.CiteSpace 6.2.R4 and VOSviewer 1.6.18.0 software was used to analyze the authors,source journals,research institutions and keywords,and the knowledge map was drawn.Results A total of 795 Chinese papers and 175 English papers were included,and the annual number of published papers fluctuated.Capital Medical University and Hong Kong Polytechnic University published more papers in Chinese and English respectively.The authors with more papers were Liu Renhui and Wong Mansau respectively.The most published journals were Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae,Phytotherapy Research,Journal of Ethnopharmacology.The high frequency keywords included oleanolic acid,specnuezhenide,processing,antioxidant,extraction technology and rat.24 clusters and 44 emergent keywords were generated.Conclusion The research focus in this field includes the extraction and purification of oleanolic acid and specnuezhenide,the compatibility of Ligustri Lucidi Fructus with Chinese herbs such as Epimedii Folium and Polygoni Cuspidati Rhizoma et Radix,the effects and mechanism of delaying aging and treating cancer and other diseases,and cultivation and quality control.
9.Comparison of the efficacy of amide proton transfer-weighted imaging and time-dependent diffusion MRI for the diagnosis of malignant breast lesions
Xiaoyan WANG ; Yan ZHANG ; Jingliang CHENG ; Liangjie LIN ; Zhigang WU ; Ying HU ; Yong ZHANG ; Anfei WANG ; Ying LI ; Ruhua WANG ; Kun ZHANG ; Wenhua ZHANG ; Baojing WANG
Chinese Journal of Radiology 2024;58(6):611-619
Objective:To compare the efficacy of amide proton transfer-weighted (APTw) imaging with time-dependent diffusion MRI (td-dMRI) in the diagnosis of malignant breast lesions.Methods:This study was a cross-sectional study. The clinical, pathological and imaging data of patients with breast lesions admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from March to August 2023 were prospectively analyzed. All patients firstly underwent T 2WI, diffusion-weighted imaging, followed by dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI), and finally APTw imaging and td-dMRI were performed for breast lesions using DCE-MRI as reference. Reconstructed images from APTw imaging measured lesions with a frequency shift of 3.5 ppm asymmetric magnetic susceptibility MTR asym(+3.5 ppm). The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values at different oscillating frequency gradients (ADC PGSE, ADC 17 Hz, ADC 33 Hz values) were measured using reconstructed td-dMRI images. Independent sample t-test was used to compare APTw imaging, td-dMRI parameter differences between benign and malignant breast tumors, breast malignant tumors with different molecular types [estrogen receptor (ER) negative and positive, progesterone receptor (PR) negative and positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER-2) negative and positive, proliferation index (Ki-67) low and high expression] and different histological grades (grade Ⅱ and Ⅲ). Receiver operating characteristic curve and area under the curve (AUC) were used to evaluate the efficacy of APTw imaging and td-dMRI parameters in differentiating benign and malignant breast tumors, molecular classification and histological grading of malignant breast lesions. Results:There were 171 lesions in 171 patients, including 103 malignant lesions and 68 benign lesions. Histological grades were grade Ⅱ in 51 cases and grade Ⅲ in 38 cases of 89 cases of invasive carcinoma. Totally 98 cases of malignant lesions were included in molecular typing analysis, 36 cases were ER negative and 62 cases were ER positive. PR was negative in 51 cases and positive in 47 cases. There were 33 negative HER-2 patients, 65 positive HER-2 patients. There were 50 cases of low Ki-67 expression and 48 cases of high Ki-67 expression. The MTR asym(+3.5 ppm) value of malignant breast lesions was higher than that of benign lesions ( t=5.76, P<0.001), and the ADC PGSE, ADC 17 Hz and ADC 33 Hz values were lower than those of benign breast lesions ( t was 4.84, 4.62, 4.01, respectively, all P<0.001). MTR asym(+3.5 ppm) had the highest AUC value (0.83) and the highest specificity (90.38%), and ADC PGSE had the highest sensitivity (85.86%). There were no significant differences in MTR asym(+3.5 ppm), ADC PGSE, ADC 17 Hz and ADC 33 Hz between grade Ⅱ and grade Ⅲ histological grades of malignant breast lesions (all P>0.05). The ADC PGSE value of ER negative was higher than that of ER positive ( t=2.34, P=0.018), and the AUC for distinguishing ER positive from negative was 0.64. The ADC PGSE and ADC 17 Hz values of PR negative were higher than those of PR positive ( t=2.87, 2.81, P=0.004, 0.006, respectively), and their AUCs for identifying PR positive versus negative breast malignant lesions were 0.68 and 0.67, respectively. The ADC 33 Hz value of negative HER-2 was lower than that of positive HER-2 ( t=3.00, P=0.003), and the AUC for distinguishing positive and negative HER-2 was 0.67. There were no significant differences in other parameters among different subtypes of breast malignant lesions (all P>0.05). Conclusion:Compared with td-dMRI, APTw imaging is more effective in differentiating benign and malignant lesions of breast tumors, and ADC values at different gradient oscillation frequencies obtained by td-dMRI show better diagnostic efficacy in differentiating different molecular types of breast malignant lesions.
10.Research progress of fibroblast growth factor in nervous system diseases.
Wenting HUANG ; Wanhua QIU ; Kun CHEN ; Shasha YE ; Dongxue WANG ; Jian HU ; Huiqin XU ; Li LIN ; Xiaokun LI
Journal of Zhejiang University. Medical sciences 2023;51(6):738-749
Fibroblast growth factors (FGF) are a group of structurally related polypeptides which constitute an elaborate signaling system with their receptors. Evidence accumulated in the years suggests that the FGF family plays a key role in the repair of central nervous system injury. The main protective mechanisms include activating the expression of PI3K-Akt, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPARγ) and other signals; inhibiting NF-κB-mediated inflammatory response, oxidative stress and apoptosis; regulating neuronal differentiation and neuronal excitability as well as participating in protection of neurovascular units and nerve function repair. This paper comprehensively summarizes the latest research progress in FGF signaling related to diseases of the central nervous system such as cerebral infarction, cerebral hemorrhage, traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy and depression, aiming to provide scientific basis and reference for the development of innovative FGF drugs for the prevention and treatment of neurological diseases.
Humans
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Fibroblast Growth Factors
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Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism*
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Central Nervous System/metabolism*
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Signal Transduction/physiology*
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Alzheimer Disease

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