1.Study on The Anti-aging Effects of Longevity-enriched Metabolite Dimethylglycine
Jie HU ; Gong-Yu PU ; Jun-Lin LI ; Ju CAO ; Zhi-Xin LIN ; Wei-Wei AN ; Xue-Meng LI ; Jing AN
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(4):1048-1061
ObjectiveThe exacerbating trend of global population aging poses profound socioeconomic and public health challenges, making the comprehensive elucidation of biological aging mechanisms and the discovery of effective anti-aging interventions an urgent priority in the life sciences. Based on our previous serum metabolomics findings that dimethylglycine, an intermediate metabolite of amino acid metabolism naturally present in the human body, was significantly enriched in the serum of longevity families, this study aimed to systematically investigate the anti-aging effects of dimethylglycine both in living organisms and in controlled laboratory environments, and to preliminarily elucidate its underlying molecular mechanisms. While existing literature indicates that dimethylglycine possesses antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties, its direct anti-aging efficacy and the specific molecular pathways through which it operates remain largely unexplored. MethodsTo comprehensively evaluate the anti-aging properties of dimethylglycine, we utilized replicative senescent human embryonic lung fibroblasts, specifically the WI-38 cell line, as an experimental model in a controlled laboratory environment. Cell viability and safety were thoroughly assessed using Cell Counting Kit-8 and lactate dehydrogenase release assays across various concentrations of dimethylglycine. The impact of dimethylglycine on cellular senescence phenotypes, oxidative stress, and proliferative capacity was evaluated via senescence-associated beta-galactosidase staining, reactive oxygen species fluorescence detection, and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine incorporation assays. Furthermore, the molecular alterations of senescence-associated secretory phenotype factors and core senescence signaling pathways were quantified using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction for the messenger RNA levels of interleukin-6, interleukin-8, p21, and matrix metalloproteinase-1, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the measurement of p16 and p21 protein expression levels. For the living organism model, the wild-type nematode Caenorhabditis elegans was used to evaluate systemic physiological effects. We conducted a comprehensive lifespan analysis at 20°C, heat stress resistance survival assays at 35℃, senescence-associated beta-galactosidase staining, lipofuscin accumulation tracking, intracellular reactive oxygen species measurement, and Oil Red O staining to ascertain systemic lipid accumulation. Additionally, network pharmacology bioinformatics tools, including PharmMapper and STRING databases, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis were utilized to predict target pathways, alongside highly detailed molecular docking simulations utilizing SwissDock and Protein-Ligand Interaction Profiler to examine interactions with the cytochrome P450 family 2 subfamily C member 9 protein. ResultsThe experimental outcomes robustly demonstrate the potent anti-aging capabilities of dimethylglycine. At the cellular level, toxicity analyses firmly confirmed that dimethylglycine is highly safe; continuous treatment with 50 mol/L and 70 mol/L of dimethylglycine for 5 d did not induce any cellular membrane damage or cytotoxicity, but rather actively promoted cellular proliferation. Utilizing the optimal standardized concentration of 50 mol/L, dimethylglycine treatment significantly ameliorated senescent phenotypic markers in human embryonic lung fibroblasts, which was evidenced by a drastic and highly significant reduction in the senescence-associated beta-galactosidase positive cell percentage (P<0.000 1) and intracellular reactive oxygen species levels (P<0.000 1), alongside a marked increase in the 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine-positive proliferation rate (P=0.003 5). On a molecular expression scale, dimethylglycine significantly downregulated the messenger RNA expression of multiple core senescence-associated secretory phenotype inflammatory factors, including interleukin-6, interleukin-8, p21, and matrix metalloproteinase-1. Concurrently, it effectively suppressed the protein expression of critical cell cycle arrest markers, diminishing p16 protein levels by 57.3% (P=0.000 4) and p21 protein levels by 27.2% (P=0.000 7). In the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans animal model, dimethylglycine significantly extended the mean lifespan from 20.402 d to an impressive 23.066 d (P<0.000 1) and notably enhanced overall survival rates under severe heat stress environmental conditions (P=0.017). Furthermore, systemic dimethylglycine intervention significantly mitigated age-related physiological decline by decreasing bodily lipofuscin accumulation (P<0.000 1), significantly reducing senescence-associated beta-galactosidase activity, lowering systemic reactive oxygen species fluorescence (P=0.008), and effectively alleviating overall fat accumulation (P<0.000 1). Mechanistically, extensive network pharmacology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses strongly revealed that the potential targets of dimethylglycine are significantly enriched in fundamental drug metabolism and oxidative stress response pathways. Precision molecular docking simulations conclusively demonstrated that dimethylglycine forms highly stable structural interactions with the cytochrome P450 family 2 subfamily C member 9 protein, specifically highlighting the definitive formation of 5 stable hydrogen bonds involving serine 365, leucine 366, and serine 429 residues, as well as two critical salt bridge formations with arginine 97 and histidine 368 residues. It is additionally predicted to interact favorably with glutathione S-transferase family proteins. ConclusionDimethylglycine exhibits a profoundly significant and multifaceted anti-aging activity at both the cellular and entire living animal levels. By powerfully alleviating oxidative stress, heavily suppressing the core p16 and p21-dependent cellular senescence signaling pathways, and substantially mitigating the detrimental senescence-associated secretory phenotype, dimethylglycine effectively delays fundamental cellular senescence processes and drastically extends whole-organism lifespan. The biological mechanisms driving these robust protective effects are highly likely closely associated with its direct stable interactions with crucial metabolic and detoxifying enzyme systems, such as cytochrome P450 family 2 subfamily C member 9 and glutathione S-transferase family proteins, thereby systemically improving metabolic dysregulation and restoring critical redox homeostasis. This comprehensive study provides highly solid experimental evidence supporting dimethylglycine as a highly potent and safe potential anti-aging intervention agent, while simultaneously offering a clear molecular mechanistic explanation for the previously documented high abundance of dimethylglycine observed within exceptionally long-lived human populations.
2.Discriminating Tumor Deposits From Metastatic Lymph Nodes in Rectal Cancer: A Pilot Study Utilizing Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI
Xue-han WU ; Yu-tao QUE ; Xin-yue YANG ; Zi-qiang WEN ; Yu-ru MA ; Zhi-wen ZHANG ; Quan-meng LIU ; Wen-jie FAN ; Li DING ; Yue-jiao LANG ; Yun-zhu WU ; Jian-peng YUAN ; Shen-ping YU ; Yi-yan LIU ; Yan CHEN
Korean Journal of Radiology 2025;26(5):400-410
Objective:
To evaluate the feasibility of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) in differentiating tumor deposits (TDs) from metastatic lymph nodes (MLNs) in rectal cancer.
Materials and Methods:
A retrospective analysis was conducted on 70 patients with rectal cancer, including 168 lesions (70 TDs and 98 MLNs confirmed by histopathology), who underwent pretreatment MRI and subsequent surgery between March 2019 and December 2022. The morphological characteristics of TDs and MLNs, along with quantitative parameters derived from DCE-MRI (K trans , kep, and v e) and DWI (ADCmin, ADCmax, and ADCmean), were analyzed and compared between the two groups.Multivariable binary logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed to assess the diagnostic performance of significant individual quantitative parameters and combined parameters in distinguishing TDs from MLNs.
Results:
All morphological features, including size, shape, border, and signal intensity, as well as all DCE-MRI parameters showed significant differences between TDs and MLNs (all P < 0.05). However, ADC values did not demonstrate significant differences (all P > 0.05). Among the single quantitative parameters, v e had the highest diagnostic accuracy, with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.772 for distinguishing TDs from MLNs. A multivariable logistic regression model incorporating short axis, border, v e, and ADC mean improved diagnostic performance, achieving an AUC of 0.833 (P = 0.027).
Conclusion
The combination of morphological features, DCE-MRI parameters, and ADC values can effectively aid in the preoperative differentiation of TDs from MLNs in rectal cancer.
3.Construction and evaluation of a risk prediction model for acute kidney injury in severe burn patients
He-dong XIANG ; Wen-zhao CHEN ; Hong-zhuang ZHANG ; Li-tao WEI ; Pei ZHAN ; Wei YANG ; Chang-quan LI ; Meng QIAO ; Chao-wei CHEN ; Zhi-qiang TIAN
Journal of Regional Anatomy and Operative Surgery 2025;34(10):886-891
Objective To explore the influencing factors of acute kidney injury in severe burn patients,and to construct a visual risk nomogram model.Methods A total of 390 patients with severe burn admitted to the Institute of Burn Frostbite and Tissue Function Reconstruction of Chinese People's Armed Police Force Specialty Medical Center from January 2018 to January 2022 were collected as an internal training data set,and 50 patients with severe burn admitted from February to December 2022 were collected as an external validation data set.The 390 patients of the internal training data set were divided into the acute kidney injury group and the non-acute kidney injury group according to the occurrence of acute kidney injury,and the baseline data of patients in the two groups were compared.Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression were used to analyze the risk factors of acute kidney injury in severe burn patients of the internal training data set,and a nomogram model was drawn.Subsequently,the model was verified both internally and externally.Kaplan-Meier analysis and Log-rank test were used to compare the 90-day survival rate of patients between the acute kidney injury group and the non-acute kidney injury group.Results The burn area(OR=1.18,95%CI:1.06 to 2.36,P=0.004),sequential organ failure assessment(SOFA)score(OR=1.81,95%CI:1.21 to 5.92,P<0.001),inhalation injury(OR=3.21,95%CI:1.23 to 6.35,P<0.001),neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio(NLR)(OR=1.22,95%CI:1.05 to 3.65,P<0.001)and albumin(ALB)(OR=0.78,95%CI:0.57 to 0.92,P=0.011)were the independent risk factors for the development of acute kidney injury in severe burn patients.The nomogram model was established by the above factors.The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUC)of the internal training data set was 0.833(95%CI:0.752 to 0.935),the sensitivity was 81.2%,and the specificity was 83.2%.The AUC of the external validation data set was 0.842(95%CI:0.762 to 0.912),the sensitivity 87.2%,and the specificity was 78.7%.The 90-day survival rate of patients in the acute kidney injury group after burns was significantly lower than that in the non-acute kidney injury group(P<0.001).Conclusion Larger burn area,higher SOFA score,combined inhalation injury,increased NLR,and decreased ALB level are the risk factors for the occurrence of acute kidney injury in severe burn patients,which are related to the 90-day survival rate of patients after burns.The nomogram model based on the risk factors can provide certain reference for clinical individualized prevention and treatment of acute kidney injury in severe burn patients.
4.Wheat-grain moxibustion at the Guanyuan point to regulate low testosterone and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in naturally aged mice
Meng-fan CUI ; Bing-zhe MA ; Zhi-yang YIN ; Yu-tong QIAN ; Dan-li JIAO ; Shi-min LIU
National Journal of Andrology 2025;31(2):157-164
Objective:To investigate the effects of wheat-grain moxibustion at the Guanyuan point on testosterone(T)synthe-sis and the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal(HPG)axis in naturally aged mice.Methods:We fed 40 twelve-month-old SPF male C57BL/6J mice with a normal diet for 3 months,randomized them into a moxibustion and an aged group of an equal number,and se-lected 7 four-month-old ones as young controls.We treated the animals of the moxibustion group by wheat-grain moxibustion at the Guanyuan point,once 5 moxibustion sticks,qd,5 times a week,and fed those of the aged group normally,all for 12 weeks.After treatment,we obtained the testicular index of the mice,observed the histomorphology of the testis tissue by HE staining,measured the contents of T in the testis,gonadotropin-releasing hormone(GnRH)in the hypothalamus and total T(tT),free T(fT),luteinizing hormone(LH)and follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH)in the serum by ELISA,and determined the expressions of silence information regulator-1(SIRT1),P53,glutathione peroxidase(GPX4)and cholesterol side-chain?cleavage enzym e(CYP11A1)in the testis by Western blot.Results:Compared with the young controls,the mice in the aged group showed obviously losing and dull hair,energy declination,loose structure of the spermatogenic tubule with different degrees of cell loss and rupture,reduced testicular index,and ev-ident aging phenotype.In comparison with the aged mice,the animals of the moxibustion group were fairly energetic and exhibited dis-tinct structure of the spermatogenic tubules,orderly arranged and highly differentiated cells at all levels,significantly increased T lev-el,up-regulated expressions of SIRT1,GPX4 and CYP11 A1,and down-regulated expression of P53 in testis tissue,and elevated levels of GnRH,FSH,LH,tT and fT in the HPG axis.Conclusion:Wheat-grain moxibustion at the Guanyuan point protects testosterone synthesis in the testis tissue of naturally aged mice,promotes negative feedback regulation of the HPG axis,and improves low testoster-one.
5.Effects of TREM2 on synaptic plasticity induced by cocaine addiction
Rui-ke XU ; Zhi-wen WANG ; Jiao-jiao OUYANG ; Qi DU ; Li-hua LI ; Shi-jun HONG ; Yan-xia PENG ; Gen-meng YANG
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(12):2341-2347
Aim To investigate the role of triggering receptor expressed on myeloidcells 2(TREM2)in syn-aptic plasticity induced by cocaine addiction.Methods C57BL/6J mice and Trem2 knockout mice were uti-lized in this study to evaluate the alterations in postsyn-aptic density protein 95(PSD-95)and synapsin 1(SYN1)within the cortex and hippocampus of co-caine-addicted mice by using immunological tech-niques.Results HE staining and Nissl staining showed increased neuronal damage in the hippocampus and cortex of mice after cocaine addiction.The results of immunohistochemistry and fluorescence of PSD-95 and SYN1 were consistent with the expression trend of Western blot.In the wild type mouse model,the ex-pression level of PSD-95 in the hippocampus and cortex was lower than that in the saline group,and the ex-pression of SYN1 was higher than that in the saline group.In the knockout mouse model,the expression levels of PSD-95 and SYN1 in the hippocampus and cortex were significantly higher than those in the saline group after cocaine addiction.The expression levels of PSD-95 and SYN1 in the hippocampus and cortex of cocaine knockout mice were higher than those of co-caine wild type mice.Conclusion Cocaine addiction can change the synaptic plasticity,and TREM2 plays a regulatory role in the synaptic plasticity of hippocampus and cortex in mice with cocaine injury.TREM2 is ex-pected to be a new target for studying the mechanism of cocaine addiction.
6.Research progress on mechanism of cGAS-STING pathway mediated cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury
Meng-ya LI ; Rui LAN ; Xiao-ming SHEN ; Shui-zhi JIAO ; Ya-han LIU ; Bao-qi WANG
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(3):417-420
Cyclic GMP-AMP synthase(cGAS)is a congenital immune sensor that can recognize cytoplasm abnormal dsDNA.By catalyzing the second messenger cyclic GMP-AMP(cGAMP)formation,it activates stimulator of interferon genes(STING),releases type Ⅰ interferon and inflammatory cytokines,activates the host immune response,and participates in cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury(CIRI)cascade reaction.This article reviews the research progress of the mechanism of cGAS-STING signaling pathway participation in CIRI,hoping to provide ideas for its treatment.
7.The impact of DIP payment on medical expense and efficiency in public hospitals:An empirical study based on the difference-in-differences method
Meng-ya SUN ; Zhi-yong LIU ; Qian-peng LYU ; Zhi-fan KOU ; Can LU ; Sheng-nan LI
Chinese Journal of Health Policy 2025;18(7):35-43
Objective:To evaluate the impact of Diagnosis-Intervention Packet(DIP)payment reform on medical service costs and efficiency for inpatients in public hospitals,and to compare differences between surgical and medical groups.Methods:A quasi-experimental design was employed,using 605 636 discharged patients from a tertiary hospital in Hebei Province between January 2020 and March 2025 as the sample.The difference-in-differences(DID)model was used to analyze the changes in key indicators between the DIP settlement group(intervention group)and the non-DIP settlement group(control group).Results:Total hospitalization costs,out-of-pocket expenses,and medication costs were significantly reduced in the DIP settlement group(P<0.05),while costs for examinations,nursing,laboratory tests,and treatments increased significantly(P<0.05).Material costs increased by 30.7%in the surgical group(P<0.1)and decreased by 19.8%in the medical group(P<0.01).In terms of efficiency,the average length of stay,time,and cost consumption index all decreased(P<0.01),while the proportion of medical services increased(P<0.01).The case mix index(CMI)showed no significant changes.Conclusion:The DIP reform effectively controlled costs and improved efficiency,but it also resulted in cost shifting and departmental disparities.Therefore,it is necessary to optimize cost control and departmental management policies.
8.Primary central nervous system lymphoma with clonal bone marrow B cells:16 cases and literature review
Yu-nan LING ; Jing-jing MA ; Zhi-guang LIN ; Yan MA ; Qing LI ; Hui KANG ; Meng-xue ZHANG ; Bo-bin CHEN
Fudan University Journal of Medical Sciences 2025;52(1):91-98
Objective To summarize the clinical features,treatment and prognosis of patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma(PCNSL)with clonal bone marrow B cells,and to explore the influence on clinical diagnosis and treatment.Methods PCNSL patients with clonal bone marrow B cells diagnosed by flow cytometry between Jan 2020 and Jul 2023 at Huashan Hospital of Fudan University were enrolled.The auxiliary examination data of these patients were collected,including complete blood count,routine biochemistry,bone marrow aspiration and biopsy,contrast-enhanced brain MRI,and whole-body PET-CT.Kaplan-Meier was used to draw the survival curve,and relevant literature was reviewed.Results A total of 223 newly diagnosed PCNSL patients were included,187 of whom completed bone marrow puncture and biopsy evaluation.We found clonal bone marrow B cells in 16 of 187 cases(8.56%)by flow cytometry.2 patients showed B lymphoma involving the bone marrow.All patients received a high-dose methotrexate based chemotherapy.The median progression free survival(PFS)of 16 patients with clonal bone marrow B cells was 11.1 months,and the median PFS of 171 patients with normal bone marrow was 12.6 months.There was no significant difference in the PFS between the two groups.Conclusion PCNSL with clonal bone marrow B cells had no specific clinical features,but bone marrow flow cytometry showed clonal B cells.High-dose methotrexate treatment regimen is effective.There was no significant difference in PFS for PCNSL patients with clonal B cells and normal findings in bone marrow.Clonal B cells in bone marrow may be caused by monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis(MBL),lymphoma involves the bone marrow and the presence of common precursor cells.Bone marrow examination should be performed in the initial evaluation of suspected PCNSL.
9.Clinical Efficacy of Tianma Xiongling Zhixuan Tablets in Treating Patients with Hypertension of the Type of Hyperactivity of Liver Yang or Combined with Phlegm and Blood Stasis,and Analysis of Plasma Metabolomics
Zhi-xiang CHEN ; Jun-liu HU ; Man WANG ; Fei-ying WANG ; Yao-wu CHEN ; Mao-wen WANG ; Meng-li JI ; Hui-hui LIU ; Jian-min FAN ; Wen ZHANG
Progress in Modern Biomedicine 2025;25(13):2138-2153
Objective:To evaluate the clinical efficacy of Tianma Xionglin Zhixuan Tablets in treating hypertension patients with liver yang hyperactivity or comorbid phlegm-stasis syndrome and explore its therapeutic mechanisms through plasma metabolomics.Methods:Thirty-six hypertension patients(4 dropouts)diagnosed with liver yang hyperactivity or phlegm-stasis syndrome were enrolled as the treatment group from June 2022 to September 2023 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine,while 30 healthy volunteers with balanced constitutions were recruited as the blank group.Plasma samples were collected from patients pre-and post-treatment and from healthy volunteers.Clinical outcomes,including syndrome scores,office blood pressure(BP),and 24-hour ambulatory BP,were recorded.Plasma metabolomic profiling was performed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(LC-MS).Results:Compared with baseline,Tianma Xionglin Zhixuan Tablets significantly reduced traditional Chinese medicine syndrome scores(P<0.01),office systolic/diastolic BP(P<0.01),and 24-hour ambulatory BP parameters(24-hour mean BP,daytime/nighttime mean BP;all P<0.01).Metabolomic analysis identified 45 differential metabolites between the blank group and pretreatment patients,and 64 metabolites altered post-treatment(VIP>1,P<0.05).Enrichment analysis of 16 overlapping endogenous metabolites revealed that Tianma Xionglin Zhixuan Tablets primarily modulated arachidonic acid metabolism and sphingolipid metabolism pathways.Conclusion:Tianma Xionglin Zhixuan Tablets demonstrates significant clinical efficacy in hypertension patients with liver yang hyperactivity or phlegm-stasis syndrome,potentially mediated through regulation of arachidonic acid and sphingolipid metabolism.
10.Study on the Effectiveness of Combination Therapy of Aleximumab and Ivabradine in Postoperative PCI of STEMI Patients
Chun-meng WU ; Zhi LI ; Shan-shan XU ; Dong-meng WANG ; Cong WANG
Progress in Modern Biomedicine 2025;25(13):2160-2166
Objective:To investigate the application effect of aleximumab combined with ivabradine in patients with STEMI after PCI.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 90 STEMI patients admitted to Jiamusi Central Hospital for PCI treatment from October 2023 to October 2024.The patients were divided into two groups based on whether they were treated with aleximumab in the early stages of admission.The 45 patients treated with aleximumab combined with ivabradine were assigned to the experimental group,and the 45 patients treated with ivabradine were assigned to the matched group.Compare two groups of blood lipid metabolism indicators[Low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),triglycerides,total cholesterol],inflammatory factors[interleukin-6(IL-6),matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9),hypersensitive C-reactive protein(Hs CRP)],ventricular remodeling[Left ventricular mass index(LVMI),end diastolic interventricular thickness(LVST)],and carotid plaques[plaque score,plaque area,carotid intima-media thickness(CarST)].otid intima-media thickness(IMT)was observed,and patients were followed up by telephone and outpatient follow-up for 6 months to record the incidence of cardiovascular adverse events(MACE).Results:Post-treatment,the level of lipid metabolism in both groups was lower than that pretherapy,and the level of lipid metabolism in the test group was lower than that in the matched group(P<0.05);Post-treatment,the levels of inflammatory factors in both groups were lower than that pretherapy,and the test group was lower than that in the matched group(P<0.05);Post-treatment,t-test showed that LVMI LVST,The plaque score,plaque area,and TMT level were all lower than pretherapy,and the experimental group was lower than the matched group(P<0.05);All patients were followed up for 6 months after surgery.Through follow-up,it was found that the total incidence of MACE in the experimental group was 8.89%,while that in the matched group was 26.67%.According to the chi square test,the total incidence of MACE in the experimental group was lower than that in the matched group(P<0.05).Conclusion:The combination of aleximumab and ivabradine treatment after PCI in STEMI patients can further improve the patient's lipid metabolism,reduce the body's inflammatory response,reverse some carotid plaques,improve ventricular remodeling,and thus further reduce the risk of long-term cardiovascular adverse events in patients.

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