Mechanism of Shengmaisan in Atrial Fibrillation Based on Network Pharmacology / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To study the mechanism of Shengmaisan in treating atrial fibrillation by regulating relative genes and signaling pathways based on network pharmacology. Method:Target genes of Shengmaisan were obtained using Bioinformatics Analysis Tool for Molecular Mechanism of TCM（BATMAN-TCM） database，and target genes of atrial fibrillation were obtained through GeneCards，OMIM and DisGeNET databases. The target genes of Shengmaisan-atrial fibrillation intersection protein were obtained through the integration of the two groups of genes. STRING was used to build the protein-protein interaction network and visualize the results. The drug-disease intersection genes were introduced into the DAVID 6.8 database for gene ontology （GO） analysis and enrichment analysis based on the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Geomes （KEGG）. Result:A total of 159 active ingredients for Shengmai powder for atrial fibrillation were obtained. After the drug targets and the disease targets were intersected，206 common targets were obtained. PPI protein interaction network analysis showed that AKT1，TP53，PRKACA，IL-1B，TNF，INS，PPAR，RXR，F2，CACAN1C PKC might be the core targets of Shengmaisan in treating AF. GO enrichment analysis was used to identify 175 items （P<0.05），among which biological processes mainly included regulation of heart rate by cardiac conduction，membrane depolarization during action potential；cell components mainly included voltage-gated sodium/ potassium/calcium channel complex；molecular functions mainly included high-voltage-gated calcium channel activity，steroid hormone receptor activity. Through KEGG pathway enrichment analysis，100 signaling pathways were identified，mainly including cGMP/PKG signaling pathway，cAMP signaling pathway，serotonergic synapse，renin secretion，calcium signaling pathway. Conclusion:Based on the network pharmacology，Shengmaisan has multiple mechanisms in the prevention and treatment of atrial fibrillation. This study explores relevant signaling pathways，advantages and research directions of Shengmaisan in treatment of atrial fibrillation，so as to lay the foundation for further experimental verification.

Serum proteomic study on hypertension patients with Gan-Dan damp-heat syndrome / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the serum proteomics in hypertension patients with Gan-Dan damp-heat syndrome (GDDH) for tentatively find special proteins associated with the syndrome.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Study was performed in 60 hypertensive patients and 39 healthy persons as control. In the patients enrolled, 40 were differentiated as GDDH syndrome and the other 20 as non-GDDH syndrome. Their serum proteins were captured by weak cation nano-magnetic beads, and proteomic fingerprint was made by matrix assistant laser demodulation ionizing time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) through mapping with protein chip reader type PBS II-C. After all the proteomic fingerprints being analyzed by Biomarker Wizard 3.1, the special expressed proteins for GDDH syndrome were identified by Biomarker Patterns Software 5.0 to create the syndrome decision model.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Totally, 182 difference protein peaks between patients of GDDH and healthy persons (P<0.05); and 132 difference protein peaks between patients of GDDH and non-GDDH were detected (P<0.05). A decision model consisted 5 screened out protein peaks with mass-to-charge ratio of 2761.555, 6624.362, 2487.192, 2461.610 and 2744.318 was created, which could well differentiate the GDDH syndrome, with the sensitivity of 96.55%, specificity of 90%, false positive rate of 10% and false negative rate of 3.45%. Further blind test for prospective check showed its sensitivity being 81.82%, specificity 89.66%, false positive rate 10.34% and false negative rate 18.18%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The differently expressed protein is the material foundation of GDDH syndrome; molecular biological decision model established on the basis of this foundation can offer a tool for making Chinese medicine syndrome differentiation more objectively and accurately.</p>

Influence of shenfu injection on heart function and bone marrow stem cell mobilization in patients with chronic heart failure of coronary heart disease / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the influence of Shenfu Injection (SFI) on heart function and bone marrow stem cell mobilization in patients with chronic heart failure.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-three patients of coronary heart disease (CHD) with chronic heart failure were randomly assigned to the control group (32 cases) and the treatment group (31 cases). Western medical conventional treatment was given to all patients, but SFI was given once a day to patients in the treatment group additionally at the dose of 40 mL by dripping after dilution. After one week of treatment, the cardiac function indexes, including left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), stroke volume (SV) and cardiac output (CO), as well as the number of CD34+ stem cells in the peripheral blood were detected and compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treatment, all the three cardiac function indexes were improved obviously in both groups (P < 0.01), but the improvement in the treatment group was more significant than that in the control group (P < 0.05). CD34+ stem cells were insignificantly changed in the control group after treatment, while it significantly increased in the treatment group (P < 0.01), showing significant difference between groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>SFI can significantly enhance the systolic function of heart, increase the number of CD34+ stem cells in the peripheral blood, and promote the mobilization of bone marrow stem cells, which is possibly one of its acting mechanisms for improving the cardiac function.</p>

Relationship between Chinese medicine syndrome and peripheral blood stem cells in patients with ischemic heart failure / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the relationship of Chinese medicine syndromes with heart function and peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) count in patients with ischemic heart failure (IHF).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Clinical materials of 208 inpatients with IHF were collected and the characteristics of their Chinese medicine syndromes were summarized, the number of PBSC was counted with flow cytometer, and the differences of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and PBSC count related to various syndrome factors and syndrome types were compared using One-way ANOVA.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>LVEF >50% was found in patients with syndromes of qi-deficiency, yin-deficiency, turbid-phlegm and blood-stasis, while <50% in those of yang-deficiency and fluid-retention, showing significant differences between the former four syndromes and the latter two syndromes. Compared them with syndromes of qi-deficiency, yin-deficiency, turbid-phlegm and blood-stasis, NT-proBNP in the yang deficiency group and water retention group was higher (P<0.01); the PBSC count in patients with yang-deficiency syndrome factor was the least, which was significantly different to that in patients with the former four syndromes (P<0.01, P<0.05), but it was insignificantly different to that with water-retention; LVEF >50% in syndrome types of Xin-Fei qi-deficiency, deficiency of qi and yin, qi-deficiency with blood-stasis and phlegm accumulation in Fei, but <50% in syndrome types of Xin-Shen yang-deficiency and yang-deficiency with water-retention. Compared them with syndrome types of Xin-Fei qi-deficiency, deficiency of qi and yin, qi-deficiency with blood-stasis and phlegm accumulation in Fei, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05, P<0.01); The highest level of NT-proBNP was shown in syndrome type of yang-deficiency with water-retention, the secondary was in Xin-Shen yang-deficiency, and all showed significant differences as compared with that in other syndrome types (P<0.05); while difference of PBSC count in patients with various syndrome types showed insignificance (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Chinese medicine syndrome is correlated with heart function and PBSC count in patients with IHF, and the PBSC count in patients with characteristics of yang-deficiency syndrome is lower.</p>

Association between the number of peripheral blood stem cells and cardiac function index in patients with ischemic heart failure / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the association between the number of peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) and cardiac function index (NYHA grade, left ventricular ejection fraction, LVEF, N-terminal-proB-type Natriuretic Peptide, NT-pro BNP) in patients with ischemic heart failure (IHF).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 199 patients hospitalized in our department between August 2007 and April 2008 due to IHF were included in this study. NYHA grade, LVEF (measured by echocardiography), plasma NT-proBNP and number of PBSC were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>PBSC number was significantly decreased in proportion with increasing NYHA grade and PBSC number was significantly lower in patients with NYHA IV than that with class II and III (all P<0.01). LVEF was positively correlated with PBSC number (r = 0.35, P = 0.001), NT-proBNP was negatively correlated with PBSC number (r = - 0.39, P = 0.009). Multiple regression analysis showed that LVEF and NT-proBNP were major determinants of PBSC (Beta = 0.14, - 0.25, 95% CI = -0.01 - 0.02, -0.18 - -0.04, P<0.05, P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>PBSC number was significantly correlated to cardiac function in IHF patients.</p>

Carotid Intima Media Thickness and Pulse Pressure Index In Elderly Essential Hypertensive Patients / 中华高血压杂志

Objective To investigate the relationship between carotid intima media thickness (IMT) and pulse pressure index (PPI) in elderly hypertensive patients.PPI was defined as 24 h mean pulse pressure(PP)/24 h mean SBP.Methods One hundred and three elderly hypertensive patients were categorized by PPI level:group A (PPI