1.The clinical utility of laboratory tests in patients with aortic dissection
Sangyu ZHOU ; Yanxiang LIU ; Bowen ZHANG ; Luchen WANG ; Mingxin XIE ; Xiaogang SUN
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2025;32(05):722-726
Aortic dissection is a life-threatening cardiovascular disease with devastating complications and high mortality. It requires rapid and accurate diagnosis and a focus on prognosis. Many laboratory tests are routinely performed in patients with aortic dissection including D-dimer, brain natriuretic peptide, cardiac troponin I, C-reactive protein, and procalcitonin. D-dimer shows vital performance in the diagnosis of aortic dissection, and brain natriuretic peptide, cardiac troponin I, C-reactive protein, and procalcitonin exhibits important value in risk stratification and prognostic effect in aortic dissection patients. Our review summarized the clinical utility of these laboratory tests in patients with aortic dissection, aiming to provide advanced and comprehensive evidence for clinicians to better understand these laboratory tests and help their clinical practice.
2.Exploration of the comprehensive management practice pathway for long-term prescription medications in psychiatry
Mengxi NIU ; Pengfei LI ; Xue WANG ; Shanshan LIU ; Yanxiang CAO ; Hongyan ZHUANG ; Hu WANG ; Li BAI ; Huawei LI ; Fei PAN ; Sha SHA ; Qing’e ZHANG
China Pharmacy 2025;36(19):2366-2371
OBJECTIVE To explore comprehensive management and potential issues associated with long-term prescriptions medications of psychiatry, in order to provide a reference for the comprehensive management of long-term prescriptions of psychiatry in psychiatric hospitals and other medical institutions’ pharmacies. METHODS Starting from the applicable principles for long-term prescriptions of psychiatry, this study introduced the standardized assessment and precautions before issuing long-term prescriptions, the formulation and adjustment of the drug list, as well as the rational management of the long-term prescriptions. It also analyzed potential issues that may arise in the comprehensive management of long-term prescription medications and proposed corresponding countermeasures and suggestions. RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS Prior to initiating long-term prescriptions, a standardized assessment should be conducted on patients from the aspects of their psychiatric condition and long-term potential risk factors, pharmacological treatment plans and other non-pharmacological therapies, physical illnesses. Additionally, healthcare providers should fulfill their obligation to inform patients or their family members. The comprehensive management of long-term prescription medications should be jointly established and improved by multiple departments, and the formulation of drug catalogs should avoid including drugs with potential social harm or medication risks while complying with policy requirements. Furthermore, measures such as adding special identifiers to long-term prescriptions, providing patients with reminders about (No.YGLX202537) prescription expiration, or offering online consultations can also effectively enhance the rationality of medication use under long-term prescriptions. Currently, the implementation of long-term prescriptions in psychiatry remains challenged by inconsistencies in prescription duration, incomplete coverage of diagnostic categories, poor patient adherence, and the risk of deviation in clinical assessments. In this regard, measures such as collaborating with multiple departments to strengthen long-term prescription information management, providing matching pharmaceutical services, ensuring the quality and rationality of long-term prescription implementation, and using modern methods to screen high-risk patients can be taken to improve patient medication compliance and safety.
3.Mechanism of Piezo1 channel activation promoting increase in intracellu-lar calcium concentration of rat coronary smooth muscle cells
Yongjiang CAI ; Yanxiang ZHENG ; Zifan WANG ; Sujuan KUANG ; Hui YANG ; Fang RAO ; Chunyu DENG
Chinese Journal of Pathophysiology 2024;40(1):9-17
AIM:To investigate the mechanism of Piezo1 channel activation promoting the increase in intra-cellular Ca2+ concentration([Ca2+]i)of rat coronary artery smooth muscle cells(CASMCs).METHODS:The primary CASMCs of SD rats were cultured,and the expression and subcellular localization of Piezo1 in the cells were observed by immunofluorescence staining.The Piezo1 and stromal interaction molecule 1(STIM1)in CASMCs were knocked down by siRNA transfection,and the expression levels of the proteins were detected by Western blot.Utilizing laser confocal mi-croscopy,the change of[Ca2+]i in CASMCs was detected by Fluo-4 AM fluorescent probes.RESULTS:It was confirmed by immunofluorescence staining that the expression of Piezo1 existed in primary rat CASMCs.Immunofluorescence staining also showed that Piezo1 was co-located with sarco-/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase 2(SERCA2),mitochondrial outer membrane protein TOM20 and nuclear membrane protein lamin B1.Western blot results showed that the protein expres-sion levels of STIM1 and Piezo1 were significantly down-regulated by siRNA transfection(P<0.05).Compared with con-trol group,Yoda1,the agonist of Piezo1,could increase the extracellular Ca2+ influx of CASMCs(P<0.01).However,the Ca2+ influx mediated by Yoda1 was not affected by the inhibition of L-type calcium channels.Treatment with Yoda1 in-creased the intracellular Ca2+ release of CASMCs(P<0.01).However,inhibition of calcium channels on endoplasmic re-ticulum,ryanodine receptor and inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor,did not affect intracellular Ca2+ release mediated by Yoda1.After the Ca2+ in endoplasmic reticulum was emptied using thapsigargin(TG),Yoda1 also mediated the Ca2+ re-lease of other organelles in CASMCs(P<0.01).After inhibition of L-type calcium channels,treatment with store-operated calcium channel(SOCC)inhibitor BTP2 or knockdown of STIM1 led to the decrease in extracellular Ca2+ influx of CASMCs mediated by Yoda1(P<0.01).Treatment with TG increased the release of Ca2+ from the endoplasmic reticulum of CASMCs after knockdown of Piezo1(P<0.05),but the extracellular Ca2+ influx mediated by TG was not affected.After inhibition of L-type calcium channels and SOCC,knockdown of Piezo1 led to the decreases in intracellular Ca2+ release and extracellular Ca2+ influx induced by Yoda1(P<0.01).CONCLUSION:The Piezo1 agonist orchestrates the influx of extracellular Ca2+ by activating Piezo1 channels on the cell membrane and inducing the indirect activation of SOCC.More-over,it facilitates the release of Ca2+ from organelles.Consequently,these pathways synergistically elevate the[Ca2+]i of rat CASMCs.
4.Effect of Fto gene knockout on calcium regulation and aortic smooth muscle contraction in diabetic mice
Yanxiang ZHENG ; Yongjiang CAI ; Zifan WANG ; Sujuan KUANG ; Hui YANG ; Fang RAO ; Chunyu DENG
Chinese Journal of Pathophysiology 2024;40(2):204-212
AIM:To investigate the influence of fat mass and obesity-associated(Fto)gene on the aberrant contraction of aortic smooth muscle in diabetes mellitus(DM)mice,and to explore the mechanism of Fto gene underlying the calcium regulation.METHODS:Smooth muscle-specific Fto gene knockout(FtoSMKO)mice were generated using Cre-loxP technology.The experiment involved 3 groups of mice:wild-type(WT)group,DM model group and FtoSMKO-DM group,with 15 mice in each group.In DM group and FtoSMKO-DM group,type 1 DM was induced by intraperitoneal injec-tion of streptozotocin.The mice in WT group were injected with equal volume of citric acid-sodium citrate buffer solution.The influences of different drugs on the contraction responses of aortic smooth muscle in mice were analyzed using a multi-myograph system.The expression level of FTO protein in the aortic tissues was detected by Western blot.RESULTS:(1)Compared with WT mice,the expression levels of FTO protein in the aortic tissues of DM mice were significantly in-creased(P<0.01).(2)The expression level of FTO protein in smooth muscle was significantly decreased after knockout of Fto gene(P<0.01).Compared with WT group,the mice in DM group exhibited a significant decrease in body weight and a marked increase in fasting blood glucose level(P<0.05).There were no noticeable differences in body weight or fasting blood glucose level between FtoSMKO-DM group and DM group(P>0.05).(3)The contraction responses of aortic smooth muscle in DM group were substantially increased by phenylephrine compared with WT group.Specifically,vaso-constriction responses mediated by non-L-type calcium channels and store-operated calcium channels(SOCC)were signifi-cantly enhanced in DM group.In addition,the responses mediated by inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors(IP3R),which facilitate calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum,were significantly enhanced.However,the responses mediated by caffeine-activated ryanodine receptors(RyR),which also facilitate calcium release from the sarcoplasmic re-ticulum,were significantly inhibited(P<0.05).(4)Compared with DM group,the phenylephrine-induced contraction re-sponses of aortic smooth muscle in FtoSMKO-DM group were greatly weakened(P<0.05).In particular,the vasoconstriction responses mediated by non-L-type calcium channels and SOCC in FtoSMKO-DM group were greatly suppressed(P<0.05),while those mediated by caffeine-activated RyR were dramatically boosted(P<0.05).However,IP3R-mediated responses were not affected(P>0.05).CONCLUSION:Smooth muscle-specific Fto gene knockout suppresses contractile hyperre-sponsiveness in the aortic smooth muscle of DM mice,which may be attributed to involvement of FTO protein in calcium regulation in the vascular smooth muscle.
5.Efficacy and Safety of Lianhua Qingwen Preparation in Treatment of Community-acquired Pneumonia:A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Yanxiang HA ; Xin LIU ; Shiwei KANG ; Shuo WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(13):142-149
ObjectiveTo explore the efficacy and safety of Lianhua Qingwen preparation in the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). MethodThe PubMed,Embase,Cochrane Collaboration,CNKI,VIP,and Wanfang Medical Network database (CBM) were systematically searched for all the randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTS) of Lianhua Qingwen Preparation in the treatment of CAP from the establishment of the databases to February 2023. The inclusion criteria were established, and the search results were screened. The risk assessment tool (ROB) scale was used to evaluate the methodological quality of the final included studies, and the R software was used for data integration and meta-analysis. ResultA total of 30 pieces of literature were included,involving 2 800 patients. The combined use of Lianhua Qingwen preparation on the basis of antibiotics and other conventional treatments showed that Lianhua Qingwen preparation could improve the cure rate [relative risk(RR)=1.32,95% confidence interval(95% CI)[1.23,1.42],P<0.000 1)] and shorten the time of fever remission [Mean difference(MD)=-1.45,95% CI [-1.93,-0.97],P<0.000 1],and the duration of fever reduction was divided into general population and special population subgroups. The results showed that Lianhua Qingwan preparation could shorten the duration of fever reduction (general population MD=-1.51,95%CI [-2.07,-0.94],P<0.000 1, special population MD=-1.22,95% CI [-2.16,-0.29],P=0.010 6)and does not increase the incidence of adverse reactions(RR=0.85,95%CI [0.62,1.15],P<0.000 1). After nine pieces of virtual literature with negative results were supplemented by the shear compensation method,the cure rate of CAP by Lianhua Qingwan preparation was still improved (RR=1.20,95%CI [1.13,1.29],P<0.000 1). ConclusionThe application of Lianhua Qingwen preparation on the basis of antibiotics in the treatment of CAP can improve the cure rate and shorten the time of fever reduction.
6.Advances in acute Stanford type A aortic dissection with organ malperfusion
Bowen ZHANG ; Yaojun DUN ; Yanxiang LIU ; Haoyu GAO ; Jie REN ; Luchen WANG ; Sangyu ZHOU ; Mingxin XIE ; Xiaogang SUN
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2024;31(08):1235-1241
The treatment of acute Stanford type A aortic dissection has always been extremely challenging. Organ malperfusion syndrome is a common severe complication of acute aortic dissection, which can cause organ ischemia and internal environment disorder. Malperfusion increases early mortality, and impacts the long-term prognosis. In recent years, many scholars have done some studies on aortic dissection complicated with malperfusion. They explored the pathogenesis, proposed new classification, and innovated new treatment strategies. However, at present, the treatment strategies of acute Stanford type A aortic dissection complicated with organ malperfusion are different at different centers and consensus on its treatment is still lacking. Therefore, this review summarized the pathogenesis, classification, treatment strategy, and prognosis of acute Stanford type A aortic dissection complicated with malperfusion.
7.Therapeutic effect and mechanism of astragalus on acute respiratory distress syndrome in sepsis mice
Yanxiang HA ; Po HUANG ; Rui ZHANG ; Chunxia ZHAO ; Xiaolong XU ; Yuhong GUO ; Shuo WANG ; Qingquan LIU
Chinese Journal of Emergency Medicine 2024;33(10):1407-1412
Objective:To verify the therapeutic effect of Astragalus on mice with acute respiratory distress syndrome with sepsis and to explore its mechanism.Methods:Seventy SPF-grade C57 mice were divided into astragalus group ( n=30), control group ( n=30) and sham surgery group ( n=10) according to random number table method, and CLP surgery was performed on Astragalus group and control group to induce sepsis acute respiratory distress syndrome, and CLP sham surgery was performed in the sham surgery group. After surgery, the astragalus group was treated with astragalus decoction for gastric gavage, the sham surgery group and the control group were gavaged with normal saline, and the mice were sacrificed 12 hours and 24 hours after the operation, and the lung histopathology was observed, the ratio of dry to wet weight of lung tissue, the protein concentration of alveolar lavage fluid was determined, the alveolar lavage fluid and serum were analyzed proteomics, and the differential proteins were enriched and analyzed. Results:Astragalus reduced the total protein concentration of BALF in ARDS mice, reduced the dry-to-wet ratio of ARDS mice, and HE staining of lung tissues showed that Astragalus decoction improved acute alveolar injury in ARDS mice. Proteomic analysis of serum samples and BALF samples showed that there were certain differential proteins between astragalus group and control group, and enrichment analysis showed that it was mainly enriched in the pathway of inflammatory factors, confirming that astragalus decoction may play a role by inhibiting the activation and release of inflammatory factors.Conclusions:Astragalus decoction can effectively reduce the inflammatory exudation of lung tissue in acute respiratory distress syndrome of sepsis, and its mechanism of action may be to inhibit the expression of inflammatory factors.
8.Effect and Mechanism of Bone Marrow-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell-conditioned Medium on Diabetic Foot Ulcers in Rats
Yifeng XU ; Yanxiang WU ; Hongmei WANG
Journal of Medical Research 2024;53(5):86-91
Objective To explore the effect and mechanism of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell-conditioned medium(MSC-CM)on diabetic foot ulcer(DFU)in rats.Methods The model of diabetes mellitus type 2(T2DM)were induced by high fat diet and intraperitoneal injection of STZ in SD rats.DFU models were made by operation on hind limbs in diabetic rats.The rats were di-vided into four groups:normal control(NC)group,diabetes mellitus control(DM-C)group,MSC-CM group and mesenchymal stem cell(MSC)group,6 rats in each gruop.The MSC-CM group was injected with bone marrow-derived MSC-CM around ulcers.MSC group was injected with bone marrow-derived MSC.The other two groups were treated with injection of PBS.After the treatment,wound clousure,re-epithelialization(thickness of the stratum granulosums of the skin was detected by HE staining),cell proliferation(ki-67 was detected by immunohistochemistry),angiogenesis(CD31 was detected by immunofluorescence),autophagy(LC3B was detected by immunofluorescence and Western blot,autolysosome was observed by electron microscopy)and pyroptosis(IL-1 β,NLRP3,caspase-1,GSDMD and GSDMD-N were detected by Western blot)in ulers were evaluated.Results After the treatment,the wound area,IL-1β,caspase-1,GSDMD and GSDMD-N in MSC-CM group were lower than those in DM-C group.Thickness of the stratum gran-ulosums of the skin,ki-67,CD31 and LC3B in MSC-CM group were higher than those in DM-C group.The injection of MSC-CM to rats with DFU enhanced the wound healing process by accelerating wound closure,promoting cell proliferation and angiogenesis,enhan-cing cell autophagy and reducing cell pyroptosis in ulcers.Conclusion MSC-CM could be a novel cell-free therapeutic approach to treat rats with DFU accelerating the wound healing process.
9.Short-term prognostic predictive value of deep-learning assisted quantitative myocardial contrast echocardiography in ST-elevated myocardial infarction after primary percutaneous coronary intervention
Mingqi LI ; Dewen ZENG ; Wenyue YUAN ; Yanxiang ZHOU ; Jinling CHEN ; Sheng CAO ; Hongning SONG ; Bo HU ; Jing CHEN ; Yuanting YANG ; Hao WANG ; Hongwen FEI ; Qing ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Ultrasonography 2023;32(7):572-582
Objective:To explore the prognostic predictive value of deep neural network (DNN) assisted myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) quantitative analysis of ST-elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients after successful percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI).Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed in 97 STEMI patients with thrombolysis in myocardial infarction-3 flow in infarct vessel after primary PCI in Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University from June to November 2021. MCE was performed within 48 h after PCI. Patients were followed up to 120 days. The adverse events were defined as cardiac death, hospitalization for congestive heart failure, reinfarction, stroke and recurrent angina. The framework consisted of the U-net and hierarchical convolutional LSTMs. The plateau myocardial contrast intensity (A), micro-bubble rate constant (β), and microvascular blood flow (MBF) for all myocardial segments were obtained by the framework, and then underwent variability analysis. Patients were divided into low MBF group and high MBF group based on MBF values, the baseline characteristics and adverse events were compared between the two groups. Other variables included biomarkers, ventricular wall motion analysis, MCE qualitative analysis, and left ventricular ejection fraction. The relationship between various variables and prognosis was investigated using Cox regression analysis. The ROC curve was plotted to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of the models, and the diagnostic efficacy of the models was compared using the integrated discrimination improvement index (IDI).Results:The time-cost for processing all 3 810 frames from 97 patients was 377 s. 92.89% and 7.11% of the frames were evaluated by an experienced echocardiographer as "good segmentation" and "correction needed". The correlation coefficients of A, β, and MBF ranged from 0.97 to 0.99 for intra-observer and inter-observer variability. During follow-up, 20 patients met the adverse events. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that for each increase of 1 IU/s in MBF of the infarct-related artery territory, the risk of adverse events decreased by 6% ( HR 0.94, 95% CI =0.91-0.98). There was a 4.5-fold increased risk of adverse events in the low MBF group ( HR 5.50, 95% CI=1.55-19.49). After incorporating DNN-assisted MCE quantitative analysis into qualitative analysis, the IDI for prognostic prediction was 15% (AUC 0.86, sensitivity 0.78, specificity 0.73). Conclusions:MBF of the area supplied by infarct-related artery after STEMI-PCI is an independent protective factor for short-term prognosis. The DNN-assisted MCE quantitative analysis is an objective, efficient, and reproducible method to evaluate microvascular perfusion. Assessment of culprit-MBF after PCI in STEMI patients adds independent short-term prognostic information over qualitative analysis.It has the potential to be a valuable tool for risk stratification and clinical follow-up.
10.Discovery and identification of EIF2AK2 as a direct key target of berberine for anti-inflammatory effects.
Wei WEI ; Qingxuan ZENG ; Yan WANG ; Xixi GUO ; Tianyun FAN ; Yinghong LI ; Hongbin DENG ; Liping ZHAO ; Xintong ZHANG ; Yonghua LIU ; Yulong SHI ; Jingyang ZHU ; Xican MA ; Yanxiang WANG ; Jiandong JIANG ; Danqing SONG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2023;13(5):2138-2151
Using chemoproteomic techniques, we first identified EIF2AK2, eEF1A1, PRDX3 and VPS4B as direct targets of berberine (BBR) for its synergistically anti-inflammatory effects. Of them, BBR has the strongest affinity with EIF2AK2 via two ionic bonds, and regulates several key inflammatory pathways through EIF2AK2, indicating the dominant role of EIF2AK2. Also, BBR could subtly inhibit the dimerization of EIF2AK2, rather than its enzyme activity, to selectively modulate its downstream pathways including JNK, NF-κB, AKT and NLRP3, with an advantage of good safety profile. In EIF2AK2 gene knockdown mice, the inhibitory IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18 and TNF-α secretion of BBR was obviously attenuated, confirming an EIF2AK2-dependent anti-inflammatory efficacy. The results highlight the BBR's network mechanism on anti-inflammatory effects in which EIF2AK2 is a key target, and inhibition of EIF2AK2 dimerization has a potential to be a therapeutic strategy against inflammation-related disorders.

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