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.Construction and reliability and validity of a scale for assessing psychiatric nurses' knowledge, attitude and practice towards the use of protective restraint
Junrong YE ; Haoyun WANG ; Wen WANG ; Aixiang XIAO ; Chenxin WU ; Li WANG ; Zhichun XIA ; Lian JIANG ; Yaling LI ; Lin YU ; Xingxiao HUANG ; Hang YANG
Sichuan Mental Health 2024;37(2):137-143
BackgroundThe existing tools in China for assessing psychiatric nurses' knowledge, attitude and practice towards the use of protective restraint do not sufficiently consider the specialty in psychiatric practice, and the scale items are somewhat cumbersome to use, which together restrict their further promotion and application. Accordingly, there is an urgent need for developing a more scientific assessment tool. ObjectiveTo construct a scale for assessing psychiatric nurses' knowledge, attitude and practice towards the use of protective restraint and to verify its reliability and validity, so as to provide a generic tool for the assessment. MethodsBased on the theoretical framework of the knowledge-attitude-practice model, the preliminary scale was formed through systematic literature review, qualitative interview and Delphi method. From July to December 2021, a stratified sampling was utilized to select 729 psychiatric nurses from tertiary, secondary and primary (including unclassified medical institutions and grassroots hospitals) psychiatric hospitals in Guangdong Province. The formal scale was developed through item analysis, exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. The validity of the scale was evaluated by content validity and structure validity, and the reliability was verified by procedures including Cronbach's α coefficient, test-retest reliability, and split-half reliability. ResultsA total of 12 items of three dimensions (knowledge, attitude, practice) were included in the scale for assessing psychiatric nurses' knowledge, attitude and practice towards the use of protective restraint. The scale-level content validity index (S-CVI) was 0.941, and the item-level content validity index (I-CVI) ranged from 0.812 to 1.000. Exploratory factor analysis extracted three common factors, and the cumulative variance contribution rate was 62.948%. The confirmatory factor yielded adequate fit. Cronbach's α coefficient was found to be 0.887 for the scale, 0.819 for knowledge dimension, 0.842 for attitude dimension, and 0.831 for practice dimension. The split-half reliability and test-retest reliability for the scale were 0.712 and 0.922, respectively. ConclusionThe scale shows satisfactory reliability and validity, which can be used to assess psychiatric nurses' knowledge, attitude and practice towards the use of protective restraint. [Funded by Guangdong Clinical Teaching Base Teaching Reform Research Project (number, 2021JD119)]
4.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.
5.Advances of Volume Electron Microscopy
Yan ZHANG ; Xi CHEN ; Xi-Xia LI ; Lin-Lin LI ; Lian-Wan CHEN ; Hua HAN ; Fei SUN
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2024;51(10):2430-2455
Volume electron microscopy (vEM) imaging technology was rapidly developed in recent years. It has been the advanced technology to solve high-resolution three-dimensional structures of biological samples. Much wonderful work has revealed the fine structure and interactions of intracellular organelles, the ultrastructure of tissues, and even the three-dimensional structure of entire small biological organisms. With the continuous improvement of resolution, scale and throughput, vEM is becoming more and more widely used in medicine, life sciences, clinical diagnostics and other fields. As a result, this technology has been rated by Nature as one of the seven most noteworthy frontier technologies to watch in 2023. However, the development and application of vEM-related technologies started late in China and need to be further promoted. We write this review to introduce all related vEM technologies, covering the development history of vEM, technology classification, sample preparation, data collection, image processing, etc., which is convenient for people in various fields to understand, learn, apply and further develop this technology.
6.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.
7.Intramedullary nailing for irreducible spiral subtrochanteric fractures: A comparison of cerclage and non-cerclage wiring
Yan-Hui GUO ; Zhan-Lin SONG ; Hua-Yong ZHENG ; Jie GAO ; Yi-Yun LIN ; Zhi LIU ; Lian-Hua LI
Chinese Journal of Traumatology 2024;27(5):305-310
Purpose::Intramedullary nailing is the preferred internal fixation technique for the treatment of subtrochanteric fractures because of its biomechanical advantages. However, no definitive conclusion has been reached regarding whether combined cable cerclage is required during intramedullary nailing treatment. This study is performed to compare the clinical effects of intramedullary nailing with cerclage and non-cerclage wiring in the treatment of irreducible spiral subtrochanteric fractures.Methods::Patients with subtrochanteric fractures admitted to our center from January 2013 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were enrolled in the case-control study according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria and divided into the non-cerclage group and the cerclage group. The patients' clinical data, including the operative time, intraoperative blood loss, hospital stay, reoperation rate, fracture union time, and Harris hip score, were compared between these 2 groups. Categorical variables were compared using Chi-square or Fisher's exact test. Continuous variables with normal distribution were presented as mean ± standard deviation and analyzed with Student's t-test. Nonnormally distributed variables were expressed as median (Q 1, Q 3) and assessed using the Mann-Whitney test. A p < 0.05 was considered significant. Results::In total, 69 patients were included in the study (35 patients in the non-cerclage group and 34 patients in the cerclage group). The baseline data of the 2 groups were comparable. There were no significant difference in the length of hospital stay (z = -0.391, p = 0.696), operative time (z = -1.289, p = 0.197), or intraoperative blood loss (z = -1.321, p = 0.186). However, compared with non-cerclage group, the fracture union time was shorter (z = -5.587, p < 0.001), the rate of nonunion was lower (χ 2= 6.030, p = 0.03), the anatomical reduction rate was higher (χ 2= 5.449, p = 0.03), and the Harris hip score was higher (z =-2.99, p = 0.003) in the cerclage group, all with statistically significant differences. Conclusions::Intramedullary nailing combined with cable cerclage wiring is a safe and reliable technique for the treatment of irreducible subtrochanteric fractures. This technique can improve the reduction effect, increase the stability of fracture fixation, shorten the fracture union time, reduce the occurrence of nonunion, and contribute to the recovery of hip joint function.
8.Investigation on Traditional Chinese Medicine Constitutions of Patients with Perimenopausal Metabolic Syndrome in Guangzhou Based on STRAW+10 Staging
Shu-Xin LIN ; Li LI ; Ning-Ning XU ; Jia-Jia HUANG ; Ya-Lian JIANG ; Ling JIANG
Journal of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;41(9):2295-2301
Objective To investigate the distribution of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)constitution types in patients with perimenopause metabolic syndrome in Guangzhou based on the Stages of Reproductive Aging Workshop+10(STRAW+10),so as to provide a theoretical basis for TCM constitution regulation for patients with PMS.Methods According to the diagnostic criteria of metabolic syndrome,a total of 90 patients with PMS were included.Based on the STRAW+10 staging criteria,the PMS patients were divided into early perimenopause group(-2 phase of STRAW+10,49 cases),late perimenopause group(-1 phase of STRAW+10,24cases),and early postmenopausal group(+la phase of STRAW+10,17 cases).Traditional Chinese Medicine Constitution Classification and Distinguishing Criteria were used to identify the TCM constitution types of all the subjects.At the same time,the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale(SAS)and Self-Rating Depression Scale(SDS)were used for scoring anxiety and depression.The distribution of TCM constitution types in patients with different STRAW+10 stages was analyzed,and the SAS and SDS scores of patients with different STRAW+10 stages were compared.Results(1)The primary TCM constitution types in the early perimenopause group(-2 phase of STRAW+10)were yang deficiency constitution(14 cases,29.79%),balanced constitution(10 cases,21.28%),yin deficiency constitution(six cases,12.76%)and blood stasis constitution(six cases,12.76%).In the late perimenopause group(-1 phase of STRAW+10),the primary TCM constitution types were yang deficiency constitution(six cases,25.00%),balanced constitution(four cases,16.66%),blood stasis constitution(four cases,16.66%),qi deficiency constitution(three cases,12.50%)and phlegm-damp constitution(three cases,12.50%).In the early postmenopausal group(+la phase of STRAW+10),the primary TCM constitution types were yang deficiency constitution(seven cases,46.67%),balanced constitution(two cases,13.33%),phlegm-damp constitution(two cases,13.33%),blood stasis constitution(two cases,13.33%),qi deficiency constitution(one case,6.67%)and qi stagnation constitution(one case,6.67%).(2)The SAS score and SDS score in the early perimenopause group(-2 phase of STRAW+10)were(34.55±7.46)points and(35.55±10.61)points,respectively,which were higher than those in the late perimenopause group(-1 phase of STRAW+10)[(33.83±7.73)points and(35.46±11.35)points,respectively]and in the early postmenopausal group(+la phase of STRAW+10)[(35.65±8.67)points and(36.59±12.07)points,respectively].All of the scores were higher than the overall average level.Conclusion The TCM constitution of patients with perimenopause metabolic syndrome is predominated by yang deficiency constitution.The percentage of the balanced constitution gradually decreases with the progression of STRAW+10 staging,and the biased constitutions gradually develop from yin deficiency constitution and blood stasis constitution into qi deficiency constitution and phlegm-damp constitution,and then into phlegm-damp constitution and blood stasis constitution again.With the progression of the stage,the deficiency in the fundamental of the PMS patients becomes more deficient and the pathogens of excess in the incidental also grow.
9.Influencing factors of the TEG maximum amplitude reduction in emergency trauma patients
Changfu JI ; Dong LAI ; Yan TIAN ; Fei LAI ; Shuting LIN ; Min LONG ; Fangyuan LI ; Fangling LIAN
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2024;37(6):638-642
Objective To investigate the causes of abnormal decrease in maximum amplitude(MA)of thromboelastog-raphy(TEG)and its effect on prognosis by monitoring the changes of coagulation-related indexes in emergency trauma pa-tients.Methods A total of 319 cases of trauma patients admitted to our hospital from September 2020 to September 2023 were retrospectively analyzed,and the coagulation-related indexes of 0 h and 24 h after admission were observed.According to the MA results,they were divided into normal MA group(>50 mm)and reduced MA group(≤50 mm)to compare the hemoglobin(Hb),platelets count(Plt),activated partial thromboplastin time(APTT),prothrombin time(PT),fibrinogen(Fib),thrombin time(TT),D-dimer(D-D),coagulation reaction time(R),clot formation kinetics(Angle),30 min clot dissolution rate(Ly30),MA,thrombine-antithrombin complex(TAT)and plasminase-α2 plasminase inhibitor complex(PIC).The correlation between MA and fibrinolysis indexes in 319 trauma patients was analyzed.According to whether tranexamic acid(TXA)was used,the reduced MA group was divided into a TXA group and a non-drug group.The differ-ences in the change of the above coagulation-related indexes,mortality rate and changes in blood product dosage were com-pared between the two groups.Results Compared with the normal MA group,Hb,Plt,Fib,diastolic blood pressure and GCS scores decreased,while heart rate,ISS score and mortality increased significantly in the reduced MA group(P<0.05).The R,PT and TT were prolonged significantly(P<0.05),and PIC and D-D increased significantly(P<0.05)in the re-duced MA group.Correlation analysis found that MA had no correlation with Ly30,TAT and APTT,but was correlated with Angle(r=0.803),Plt(r=0.544),Fib(r=0.581),PIC(r=-0.443)and D-D(r=-0.343).Compared with the non-drug group,the change of Angle,MA and FIB in the TXA group increased significantly(P<0.05),while the change of PIC de-creased(P<0.05).Cryoprecipitate and platelet transfusion in the TXA group reduced significantly(P<0.05),and red blood cell transfusion had a decreasing trend,but the difference was not significant(P>0.05).The mortality rate in the TXA group was reduced significantly(P<0.05).Conclusion Hyperfibrinolysis may be an important factor in the abnormal decrease of MA in emergency trauma patients.Treatment with TXA can improve its effect on MA,and reduce the transfusion of blood products and the patient mortality.
10.Research status on the role of NLRP3 inflammasome in tumor micro-environment on breast cancer metastasis
Lin-Ye HUA ; Hong-Shan LUO ; Xiu-Lian LIN ; Li-Mei LIN ; Bo-Hou XIA ; Ya-Mei LI
The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2024;40(14):2148-2152
The expression level of NOD-like receptors(NLRP3)inflammasome is significantly elevated in breast cancer tissues,and a high level of NLRP3 inflammasomes is closely associated with breast cancer metastasis.Activation of NLRP3 inflammasome can induce the release of inflammatory factors into the tumor microenvironment(TME).These inflammatory factors,by signaling to cancer cells,reshape the TME to promote tumor growth and invasion,ultimately facilitating the process of epithelial-mesenchymal transition.This equips cancer cells with the ability to establish distant metastases and increase the formation of metastatic lesions.This review addresses the current research status and prospects of NLRP3 inflammasomes in the breast cancer TME and their role in breast cancer metastasis.The goal is to provide new insights for the study of breast cancer metastasis mechanisms and treatment strategies.

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