Shenfu injection combined with furosemide in the treatment of chronic heart failure in patients with coronary heart disease: A protocol of randomized controlled trial

Shenfu injection: a review of pharmacological effects on cardiovascular diseases

Shenfu injection (SFI), composed of ginseng and aconite, is a Chinese patent developed from the classic traditional prescription Shenfu Decoction created more than 700 years ago. SFI has been widely used in China for over 30 years for treating cardiovascular diseases. The main components in it include ginsenosides and aconitum alkaloids. In recent years, the role of SFI in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases has attracted much attention. The pharmacological effects and therapeutic applications of SFI in cardiovascular diseases are summarized here, highlighting pharmacological features and potential mechanisms developments, confirming that SFI can play a role in multiple ways and is a promising drug for treating cardiovascular diseases.

Shenfu injection as treatment for critical illness: a narrative review of clinical trials

Background and Objective

Shenfu injection (SFI) is a traditional herbal medicine derived from components of ginseng and aconite and is commonly used in China to treat a variety of conditions. Shenfu has been suggested to have beneficial effects in various critical illnesses, including heart failure, cardiac arrest, and septic shock. In recent years, there have been a number of studies reporting that SFI improves patient outcomes when used concurrently with other treatments, but its use has not been adopted outside of China. This narrative review explored the results of clinical trials that have tested SFI's efficacy in various critical illnesses.

Methods

PubMed was searched for clinical trials, systematic reviews and meta-analyses published between 1990 and July 2022 relating to clinical trials using SFI in various critical illnesses. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses were included to enable inclusion of data from trials originally not published in English. The selected articles were then summarized in the following disease categories: heart failure, cardiac arrest, sepsis, and severe pulmonary disease.

Key Content and Findings

Clinical trials testing SFI in heart failure, cardiac arrest, sepsis, and pulmonary disease were reviewed. The design, methodology, and key findings of each trial or meta-analysis are summarized and discussed. Key limitations were also highlighted and discussed. Overall, several clinical trials suggest SFI may hold therapeutic potential for the treatment of critical illness, however, additional research is likely still needed.

Conclusions

Based on the current body of literature, further research-especially multi-center randomized, double-blind trials with detailed reporting of all methods and results according to international guidelines-is needed to evaluate whether SFI is a useful addition to existing treatments for these conditions.

Unraveling the Intricate Roles of Exosomes in Cardiovascular Diseases: A Comprehensive Review of Physiological Significance and Pathological Implications

Exosomes, as potent intercellular communication tools, have garnered significant attention due to their unique cargo-carrying capabilities, which enable them to influence diverse physiological and pathological functions. Extensive research has illuminated the biogenesis, secretion, and functions of exosomes. These vesicles are secreted by cells in different states, exerting either protective or harmful biological functions. Emerging evidence highlights their role in cardiovascular disease (CVD) by mediating comprehensive interactions among diverse cell types. This review delves into the significant impacts of exosomes on CVD under stress and disease conditions, including coronary artery disease (CAD), myocardial infarction, heart failure, and other cardiomyopathies. Focusing on the cellular signaling and mechanisms, we explore how exosomes mediate multifaceted interactions, particularly contributing to endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in CVD pathogenesis. Additionally, exosomes show great promise as biomarkers, reflecting differential expressions of NcRNAs (miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs), and as therapeutic carriers for targeted CVD treatment. However, the specific regulatory mechanisms governing exosomes in CVD remain incomplete, necessitating further exploration of their characteristics and roles in various CVD-related contexts. This comprehensive review aims to provide novel insights into the biological implications of exosomes in CVD and offer innovative perspectives on the diagnosis and treatment of CVD.

Diagnostic value of peripheral blood miR-296 combined with vascular endothelial growth factor B on the degree of coronary artery stenosis in patients with coronary heart disease

OBJECTIVE

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a disorder resulting from organic and functional coronary artery stenosis (CAS), thus causing reduced oxygenated blood in the heart. miRNAs are useful biomarkers in the diagnosis of atherosclerosis, CHD, and acute coronary syndrome. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is closely related to CHD. This study explored the correlation of miR-296 and VEGF-B expression levels in peripheral blood with CAS degree in CHD patients.

METHODS

Totally 220 CHD patients were enrolled and classified into mild-(71 cases)/moderate-(81 cases)/severe-CAS (68 cases) groups, with another 80 healthy cases as controls. The serum miR-296 and VEGF-B expression levels were detected using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The correlation between miR-296 and CAS-related indexes was assessed via Pearson analysis. The binding relationship of miR-296 and VEGF-B was first predicted and their correlation was further analyzed via the Pearson method. The clinical diagnostic efficacy of miR-296 or VEGF-B on CAS degree was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic curve.

RESULTS

Serum miR-296 was downregulated in CHD patients and was the lowest in patients with severe-CAS. miR-296 was negatively-correlated with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, brain natriuretic peptide, and cardiac troponin I. miR-296 targeted VEGF-B. VEGF-B was upregulated in CHD patients and inversely-related to miR-296. Low expression of miR-296 and high expression of VEGF-B both had high clinical diagnostic values on CAS degree in CHD patients. miR-296 combined with VEGF-B increased the diagnostic value on CAS.

CONCLUSION

Low expression of miR-296 combined with high expression of its target VEGF-B predicts CAS degree in CHD patients.

Shenfu Administration Improves Cardiac Fibrosis in Rats With Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Through Adenosine A2a Receptor Activation

OBJECTIVE

Shenfu injection (SFI) is commonly used for cardiac dysfunction in China. Adenosine receptors have been reported to exert anti-fibrosis effects. The intent of this study was to evaluate that SFI attenuates cardiac fibrosis through activating of adenosine A_2a receptor (A_2aR) in rats with myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (MI/R).

METHODS

Sprague Dawley male rats were randomly divided into five groups, nine rats in each group. Injections in all rat groups were carried out prior to reperfusion, and in the sham and MI/R groups, only vehicle was injected. Injections in the remaining group were as follows: 5 mL/kg in the SFI group; 15 mg/kg nicorandil in the A₂R agonist group; and 5 mL/kg SFI plus 5 mg/kg MSX-3 in the SFI + A_2aR antagonist group. Changes in cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and the development of myocardial infarction and cardiac fibrosis were documented among the groups. Additionally, the levels of A_2aR, collagen Ⅰ, collagen Ⅲ, fibronectin, and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) were measured.

RESULTS

Following injection with SFI or nicorandil, the cAMP concentration, infarct area, and cardiac fibrosis induced by MI/R injury were significantly decreased (p < 0.05). Additionally, the levels of collagen Ⅰ, collagen Ⅲ, fibronectin, and MMP-9 were clearly suppressed by SFI or nicorandil when compared with the MI/R group (p<0.01). However, the protective effects of SFI were counteracted by MSX-3. A negative correlation between A_2aR and collagen I and collagen III was found (p = 0.00).

CONCLUSION

SFI activated the A_2aR to reduce myocardial fibrosis caused by MI/R injury, which provided an underlying mechanism of action of SFI.

Characteristic analysis of clinical coronary heart disease and coronary artery disease concerning young and middle-aged male patients

BACKGROUND

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a type of coronary atherosclerotic heart disease. In recent years, the incidence of CHD has been increasing annually, with an increasing number of young patients. Severe CHD may cause severe myocardial ischemia or myocardial necrosis, which in turn may cause myocardial infarction and related complications that seriously affect the life and health of the patient.

AIM

To examine the coronary arteries and clinical features of young and middle-aged male patients with CHD.

METHODS

From February 2019 to January 2020, 110 male CHD patients admitted to our hospital were selected as research subjects and were divided into two groups by age: middle-aged group (n = 55) and young group (n = 55). The coronary arteries and clinical features of the patients were compared.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in dyslipidemia, stroke history, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, or triacylglycerol (P > 0.05) between the two groups. In the young group, age, diabetes, hypertension, smoking history, body mass index, family history of CHD, drinking history, fibrinogen, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, and single-vessel disease were higher than those in the middle-aged group. Correspondingly, serum uric acid, hyperuricemia, myocardial infarction, Gensini score > 50, collateral circulation, multivessel disease, double vessel disease, involvement of the right coronary artery, and involvement of the left main coronary artery were lower in the young group than in the middle-aged group. The middle-aged group mainly suffered from a high Gensini score, implicating multiple arteries, whereas the young group was mainly affected by single-vessel disease. The between-group difference was significant (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

In CHD attacks, multiple coronary arteries are implicated in middle-aged male patients and single-vessel disease in young male patients.