Background: Qishen granules (QSG) has been applied to treat heart failure (HF) for decades. Our previous transcriptomics study has suggested that Qishen granules (QSG) could regulate the pathways of cardiac energy metabolism in HF, but the specific regulatory mechanism has not yet been clarified. This study was to investigate the potential mechanism of QSG in regulating myocardial fatty acid (FA) and glucose metabolism in a rat model of HF. Methods: The model of HF was induced by left anterior descending coronary artery ligation. Cardiac structure and function were assessed by cine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and echocardiography. Level of glucose metabolism was non-invasively evaluated by ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT). Blood lipid levels were determined by enzymatic analysis. The mitochondrial ultrastructure was observed with a transmission electron microscope. The critical proteins related to FA metabolism, glucose metabolism and mitochondrial function were measured by western blotting. The ANOVA followed by a Fisher’s LSD test was used for within-group comparisons. Results: QSG ameliorated cardiac functions and attenuated myocardial remodeling in HF model. The levels of serum TC, TG and LDL-C were significantly reduced by QSG. The proteins mediating FA uptake, transportation into mitochondria and β-oxidation (FAT/CD36, CPT1A, ACADL, ACADM, ACAA2 and SCP2) as well as the upstreaming transcriptional regulators of FA metabolism (PPARα, RXRα, RXRβ and RXRγ) were up-regulated by QSG. As to glucose metabolism, QSG inhibited glycolytic activity by decreasing LDHA, while stimulated glucose oxidation by decreasing PDK4. Furthermore, QSG could facilitate tricarboxylic acid cycle, promote the transportation of ATP from mitochondria to cytoplasm and restore the mitochondrial function by increasing SUCLA2, CKMT2 and PGC-1α and decreasing UCP2 simultaneously. Conclusion: QSG improved myocardial energy metabolism through increasing FA metabolism,inhibiting uncoupling of glycolysis from glucose oxidation.

Purpose: To investigate the differences of several serum markers among population with different bone mass and to explore the utility of new potential biomarker for the diagnosing and screening for postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP). Materials and Methods: A total of 1055 postmenopausal women were screened and gathered data on BMD screening, biological samples, and questionnaire information. A liquid chip assay was used to measure serum IL-6, IGF-1, BMP-2, VEGF, leptin and FGF23. The predictive value of the indicator panels was assessed using the area under the receiver-operator characteristic curve (AUC). Statistical analyses were conducted by using SAS 9.4 and R software 4.1.1. Figures were created in GraphPad Prism 8.0. Results: When compared against the normal group, in addition to the vitamin D, the PMOP group showed a significant increase in median values for other indicators (P < 0.05), especially in P1NP and β-CTX. Among the six cytokines representing different osteoporosis mechanisms, currently, we found that only IGF-1 and leptin showed significant differences between the groups. Also, the liquid chip assay results showed that IGF-1 and leptin, as newer cytokines in osteoporosis, not only have significant differences between groups, but also have a strong correlation with each other (P < 0.05). Then, we reported the accuracy of different indicator combinations by using AUC and, moreover, we demonstrated that IGF-1 with leptin did significantly provide incremental value to the AUC of conventional indexes, it markedly improved diagnostic efficacy, displaying an IDI of 9.45% (P = 0.000). Conclusion: IFG-1 and leptin seem to be key biomarker associated with PMOP. The high prevalence of PMOP makes these cytokines might bear the potential of becoming a very useful screening test also for clinical follow-up of patients.

Purpose: Baduanjin (BDJ) exercise is a traditional exercise that combines breathing, body movement, meditation and awareness to help delay the onset and progression of senile degenerative musculoskeletal diseases, such as osteoporosis (OP). The aim of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the efficacy of BDJ exercise, and preliminarily infer its effective mechanism in the treatment of OP.Methods: We identified relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) through eight databases, and compared BDJ exercise with the control groups (including blank control and conventional treatment intervention). The main outcome measure was bone mineral density (BMD), the additional outcome measures were visual analogue scale (VAS), Berg balance scale (BBS), serum Calcium (Ca), serum Phosphorus (P), serum Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and serum bone gla protein (BGP). Meta-analysis and trial sequence analysis (TSA) were performed using RevMan 5.4, Stata 16.0, and TSA 0.9.Results: In total, 13 RCTs involving 919 patients were included in the analysis. For postmenopausal osteoporosis, BDJ exercise alone and BDJ exercise combined with conventional treatment can improve the BMD of lumbar spine. BDJ exercise alone can influence serum Ca and ALP. BDJ exercise combined with conventional treatment can improve balance (BBS) and influence serum BGP. For senile osteoporosis, BDJ exercise alone and BDJ exercise combined with conventional treatment can improve balance (BBS). BDJ exercise combined with conventional treatment can improve the BMD of hip and pain relieve (VAS). For primary osteoporosis, BDJ exercise combined with conventional treatment can improve the BMD of lumbar spine and femoral neck.Conclusion: Baduanjin exercise may be beneficial to improve BMD, relieve pain, improve balance ability, influence serum BGP and serum ALP in patients with OP, but differences occur due to various types of OP. Due to the low quality of research on the efficacy and mechanism of BDJ exercise in the treatment of OP, high-quality evidence-based research is still needed to provide reliable supporting evidence.Systematic Review Registration: [http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO], identifier [CRD42022329022].

A relationship between osteoporosis (OP) and vascular calcification (VC) is now proposed. There are common mechanisms underlying the regulation of them. Fibroblast growth factor‐ (FGF‐) 23 and Klotho are hormones associated with the metabolic axis of osteovascular metabolism. Most recently, it was suggested that the FGF23‐klotho axis is associated with increasing incidence of fractures and is potentially involved in the progression of the aortic‐brachial stiffness ratio. Herein, we discussed the potential role of the FGF23/Klotho axis in the pathophysiology of OP and VC. We want to provide an update review in order to allow a better understanding of the potential role of the FGF23/Klotho axis in comorbidity of OP and VC. We believe that a better understanding of the relationship between both entities can help in proposing new therapeutic targets for reducing the increasing prevalence of OP and VC in the aging population.