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.

AIM:To investigate the preventive and therapeutic effects of sesamin(SES)on fatty liver disease in rats with hypertension combined with dyslipidemia,and to explore the potential mecha-nisms based on mRNA-seq.METHODS:Spontane-ously hypertensive rats(SHRs)were fed a high-fat,high-cholesterol diet to establish a rat model of hy-pertension combined with dyslipidemia,and then treated with SES for 16 weeks continuously.The ex-periment was divided into four groups:WKY,SHR,Model,and Model+SES(160 mg·kg-1·d-1).Blood pressure was measured using the tail-cuff method.Body weight was monitored,and body mass index was calculated.Liver morphology was detected by ultrasound,and liver thickness was measured.Liver wet weight was weighed,and liver index was calcu-lated.Liver volume was detected by the water dis-placement method.Serum triglycerides(TG),total cholesterol(TC),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C),alanine aminotransferase(ALT),aspartate amino-transferase(AST),and total bile acids(TBA)were de-tected by ELISA.Liver sequencing analysis was per-formed using mRNA-seq.Liver histomorphological changes were observed by HE staining.The degree of hepatic steatosis was observed by Oil Red O stain-ing,and the degree of hepatic fibrosis was observed by MASSON staining.The mRNA expression of Al-dh1a7,Nnmt,Irs2,Pltp,and Scd was detected by q-PCR.The protein expression of Scd,Nnmt,AMPK,p-AMPK,PPARα,and PPARγ was detected by Western blotting.RESULTS:After 16 weeks of continuous SES administration to rats with hypertension combined with dyslipidemia,blood pressure was significantly reduced(P＜0.01),and body weight was decreased.Serum TG,TC,and LDL-C levels were decreased,while HDL-C levels were increased.Serum ALT and AST levels were decreased.Liver weight,organ in-dex,liver thickness,and liver volume were de-creased.The degree of hepatic steatosis and hepat-ic fibrosis was improved.A total of 545 differentially expressed mRNAs were identified in the livers of rats in each group,of which 278 were upregulated and 267 were downregulated.Among the 27 com-monly differentially expressed mRNAs,five mRNAs related to lipid metabolism were screened,namely Aldh1a7,Nnmt,Irs2,Pltp,and Scd.KEGG enrich-ment analysis showed that the enriched pathways were AMPK and PPAR.Further validation revealed that in the SES-treated group,the mRNA expression of Scd in the liver was decreased,while the mRNA expression of Nnmt was increased.The protein ex-pression of Scd was decreased,while the protein ex-pression of Nnmt,AMPK,p-AMPK,PPARα,and PPARγ was increased.CONCLUSION:SES has preven-tive and therapeutic effects on fatty liver disease in rats with hypertension combined with dyslipidemia,and its mechanism of action may be related to the reduction of Scd expression levels in the liver and the increase in the expression of Nnmt,AMPK,p-AMPK,PPARα,and PPARγ.

AIM To evaluate the quality of Chuanxiong Chatiao Pills.METHODS The UPLC fingerprints were established,after which hierarchical cluster analysis,principal component analysis,orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis were performed,the contents of cimifugin,ferulic acid,liquiritin,nodakenin,senkyunolide Ⅰ,5-O-methylvisamminol,rosmarinic acid,ammonium glycyrrhizinate,imperatorin and isoimperatorin were determined.RESULTS There were 18 common peaks in the fingerprints for 44 batches of samples with the similarities of 0.75-1.00.Various batches of samples were clustered into 2 catagories,3 principal components demonstrated the accumulative variance contribution rate of 87.1％,5 quality difference markers were screened.Ten constituents showed good linear relationships within their own ranges(r≥0.999 3),whose average recoveries were 90.22％-105.30％with the RSDs of 0.66％-1.98％,whose content ranges were 0.070-0.438,0.147-0.529,0.052-0.444,1.228-6.934,0.016-0.545,0.049-1.554,0.018-0.415,0.382-2.187,0.568-3.700,0.069-0.996 mg/g,respectively.CONCLUSION This accurate,reliable and specific method can provide scientific evidence for the quality control and standardization of Chuanxiong Chatiao Pills.

This study explored the effects and underlying mechanism of Raf kinase inhibitory protein(RKIP)on apoptosis in mast cells sensitized by Echinococcus granulosus cyst fluid.Bone marrow-derived mast cells(BMMCs)were isolated and cultured from RKIP knockout(KO)and wild-type(WT)C57BL/6 mice.Cells were divided into control and sensitized groups.The sensitized group was incubated for 24 h in RPMI1640 medium containing 10%serum from mice infected with E.granulosus,then activated for 3 h or 6 h with E.granulosus cyst fluid.The control group was incubated for 24 h in RPMI1640 medium,and then received an equal vol-ume of PBS.Cells and supernatants were collected for analysis.Flow cytometry was used to detect the expression of CD117 and FcεRⅠα on BMMCs.The levels of β-hexosaminidase,IL-4,and TNF-α in the supernatant were quantified with ELISA.Western blot analy-sis was used to assess expression changes in RKIP,apoptosis-related proteins,and pathway proteins in BMMC before and after sensi-tization.Flow cytometry analysis revealed that after 4 weeks of induction,the CD117 and FcεRⅠα double-positivity rates on both WT and KO BMMC exceeded 90%.ELISA indicated that the E.granulosus cyst fluid resulted in significantly greater β-hexosaminidase re-lease(F=16.88,P<0.05),and levels of IL-4(F=16.51,P<0.05)and TNF-α(F=9.78,P<0.05)in the KO sensitized group than the WT sensitized group.With respect to the WT control group,the WT sensitized group showed significantly down-regulated pro-tein expression levels of RKIP(F=8.20,P<0.05)and Bcl-2(F=101.40,P<0.01)after 3 h,but significantly up-regulated levels of p-PI3K(F=8.04,P<0.05),p-Akt(F=32.52,P<0.01),p-P65(F=13.29,P<0.05),and cleaved-caspase-3(F=46.34,P<0.01).With respect to the WT sensitized group,the KO sensitized group showed significantly up-regulated protein expression of p-PI3K(F=8.45,P<0.05),p-Akt(F=8.58,P<0.05),p-P65(F=11.02,P<0.05),and Bcl-2(F=84.50,P<0.001)after 3 h,but significantly down-regulated expression of cleaved-caspase-3(F=15.66,P<0.05).In conclusion,RKIP may inhibit the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB pathway,thereby inducing apoptosis in mast cells sensitized by E.granulosus cyst fluid.This process may help ease aller-gic reactions caused by mast cells in echinococcosis,thus offering a promising new approach for preventing and treating such reactions.

Objective To explore the value of three-dimensional automated right ventricular quantification(3D Auto RV)for predicting right ventricular function dysfunction in patients with severe aortic stenosis(AS).Methods Eighty severe AS patients were retrospectively enrolled.Based on right ventricular ejection fraction(RVEF)obtained with 3D Auto RV,the patients were classified into right ventricular compensation group(RVEF≥45%,compensation group,n=56)and right ventricular function decompensation(RVEF＜45%,decompensation group,n=24)group.Ultrasonic parameters related to right ventricular structure and function were compared between groups.Univariable analysis and multivariable logistic regression were performed to observe ultrasound parameters related to right ventricular function,so as to screen out the independent predictors of right ventricular functional decompensation(dysfunction)in patients with severe AS.Results Compared with those in compensation group,right ventricular end diastolic volume and right ventricular end systolic volume of decompensation group increased,while right ventricular fractional area change,tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion,right ventricular free wall longitudinal strain(RVFWLS),septal longitudinal strain(SLS),right ventricular stroke volume and RVEF all decreased(all P＜0.05).Valvulo-arterial impedance(OR=2.337),left ventricular ejection fraction(OR=0.751)and RVFWLS/pulmonary artery systolic pressure(right ventricle-pulmonary artery coupling)(OR=0.653)were all independent predictors of right ventricular dysfunction in patients with severe AS(all P＜0.05).Conclusion 3D Auto RV could be used to effectively predict right ventricular dysfunction in patients with severe AS.

AIM To evaluate the quality of Chuanxiong Chatiao Pills.METHODS The UPLC fingerprints were established,after which hierarchical cluster analysis,principal component analysis,orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis were performed,the contents of cimifugin,ferulic acid,liquiritin,nodakenin,senkyunolide Ⅰ,5-O-methylvisamminol,rosmarinic acid,ammonium glycyrrhizinate,imperatorin and isoimperatorin were determined.RESULTS There were 18 common peaks in the fingerprints for 44 batches of samples with the similarities of 0.75-1.00.Various batches of samples were clustered into 2 catagories,3 principal components demonstrated the accumulative variance contribution rate of 87.1％,5 quality difference markers were screened.Ten constituents showed good linear relationships within their own ranges(r≥0.999 3),whose average recoveries were 90.22％-105.30％with the RSDs of 0.66％-1.98％,whose content ranges were 0.070-0.438,0.147-0.529,0.052-0.444,1.228-6.934,0.016-0.545,0.049-1.554,0.018-0.415,0.382-2.187,0.568-3.700,0.069-0.996 mg/g,respectively.CONCLUSION This accurate,reliable and specific method can provide scientific evidence for the quality control and standardization of Chuanxiong Chatiao Pills.

This study explored the effects and underlying mechanism of Raf kinase inhibitory protein(RKIP)on apoptosis in mast cells sensitized by Echinococcus granulosus cyst fluid.Bone marrow-derived mast cells(BMMCs)were isolated and cultured from RKIP knockout(KO)and wild-type(WT)C57BL/6 mice.Cells were divided into control and sensitized groups.The sensitized group was incubated for 24 h in RPMI1640 medium containing 10%serum from mice infected with E.granulosus,then activated for 3 h or 6 h with E.granulosus cyst fluid.The control group was incubated for 24 h in RPMI1640 medium,and then received an equal vol-ume of PBS.Cells and supernatants were collected for analysis.Flow cytometry was used to detect the expression of CD117 and FcεRⅠα on BMMCs.The levels of β-hexosaminidase,IL-4,and TNF-α in the supernatant were quantified with ELISA.Western blot analy-sis was used to assess expression changes in RKIP,apoptosis-related proteins,and pathway proteins in BMMC before and after sensi-tization.Flow cytometry analysis revealed that after 4 weeks of induction,the CD117 and FcεRⅠα double-positivity rates on both WT and KO BMMC exceeded 90%.ELISA indicated that the E.granulosus cyst fluid resulted in significantly greater β-hexosaminidase re-lease(F=16.88,P<0.05),and levels of IL-4(F=16.51,P<0.05)and TNF-α(F=9.78,P<0.05)in the KO sensitized group than the WT sensitized group.With respect to the WT control group,the WT sensitized group showed significantly down-regulated pro-tein expression levels of RKIP(F=8.20,P<0.05)and Bcl-2(F=101.40,P<0.01)after 3 h,but significantly up-regulated levels of p-PI3K(F=8.04,P<0.05),p-Akt(F=32.52,P<0.01),p-P65(F=13.29,P<0.05),and cleaved-caspase-3(F=46.34,P<0.01).With respect to the WT sensitized group,the KO sensitized group showed significantly up-regulated protein expression of p-PI3K(F=8.45,P<0.05),p-Akt(F=8.58,P<0.05),p-P65(F=11.02,P<0.05),and Bcl-2(F=84.50,P<0.001)after 3 h,but significantly down-regulated expression of cleaved-caspase-3(F=15.66,P<0.05).In conclusion,RKIP may inhibit the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB pathway,thereby inducing apoptosis in mast cells sensitized by E.granulosus cyst fluid.This process may help ease aller-gic reactions caused by mast cells in echinococcosis,thus offering a promising new approach for preventing and treating such reactions.

BACKGROUND:Osteoarthritis is a common degenerative joint disease,and the etiology and development of its pathogenesis are still unclear.Timely diagnosis and treatment of early osteoarthritis are crucial,and there is currently no definite and effective method.Extracellular vesicles come from a wide range of sources,including non-coding RNAs such as small RNAs,circular RNAs,and long chain non-coding RNAs.Extracellular vesicles non-coding RNAs can be directly delivered from primitive cells to neighboring or remote cells,regulating cell activity through intercellular communication and playing an important regulatory role in reshaping the bone and joint microenvironment.OBJECTIVE:To summarize the intervention effects of exosome-derived non-coding RNAs on the joint microenvironment of osteoarthritis and the progress made in clinical application,and to clarify the potential of exosome-derived non-coding RNAs in the diagnosis and treatment of osteoarthritis.METHODS:Search terms "exosomes,non-coding RNA,osteoarthritis,application,signal pathway,synovial fluid,cartilage cells,cartilage matrix,subchondral,mechanism" were used for the search on PubMed database.Finally,66 related articles were included for review analysis.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) Exosome-derived non-coding RNAs play an important regulatory role in the joint microenvironment during the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis,mainly reflected in:exosome non-coding RNAs regulating the inflammatory response in the joint,degeneration of chondrocytes and cartilage matrix,subchondral bone remodeling,and intercellular communication.(2) The non-coding RNAs in exosomes can serve as biomarkers for osteoarthritis,aiding in the early diagnosis and monitoring of disease progression and prognosis.(3) Exosome non-coding RNAs serve as therapeutic targets for osteoarthritis.Exosomes carry miRNAs to the articular chondrocytes and cartilage matrix to play a regulatory role.(4) Exosomes non-coding RNAs can improve the effect of cartilage tissue engineering by regulating gene expression and promoting intercellular communication to repair or regenerate damaged cartilage.(5) In future research,researchers should continue to explore the intervention mechanism of non-coding RNAs derived from exosomes on osteoarthritis,and apply them to clinical practice in combination with the latest research outcomes in cartilage tissue engineering,which will effectively help solve the pain of osteoarthritis patients.

Objective To explore the value of three-dimensional automated right ventricular quantification(3D Auto RV)for predicting right ventricular function dysfunction in patients with severe aortic stenosis(AS).Methods Eighty severe AS patients were retrospectively enrolled.Based on right ventricular ejection fraction(RVEF)obtained with 3D Auto RV,the patients were classified into right ventricular compensation group(RVEF≥45%,compensation group,n=56)and right ventricular function decompensation(RVEF＜45%,decompensation group,n=24)group.Ultrasonic parameters related to right ventricular structure and function were compared between groups.Univariable analysis and multivariable logistic regression were performed to observe ultrasound parameters related to right ventricular function,so as to screen out the independent predictors of right ventricular functional decompensation(dysfunction)in patients with severe AS.Results Compared with those in compensation group,right ventricular end diastolic volume and right ventricular end systolic volume of decompensation group increased,while right ventricular fractional area change,tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion,right ventricular free wall longitudinal strain(RVFWLS),septal longitudinal strain(SLS),right ventricular stroke volume and RVEF all decreased(all P＜0.05).Valvulo-arterial impedance(OR=2.337),left ventricular ejection fraction(OR=0.751)and RVFWLS/pulmonary artery systolic pressure(right ventricle-pulmonary artery coupling)(OR=0.653)were all independent predictors of right ventricular dysfunction in patients with severe AS(all P＜0.05).Conclusion 3D Auto RV could be used to effectively predict right ventricular dysfunction in patients with severe AS.

Objectives:To investigate the epidemiological characteristics and ethnic differences of cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome(CKM)among the Hani,Dai,Bai,and Lisu populations in Yunnan Province,and to provide evidence for developing effective prevention and control strategies for CKM.Methods:A cross-sectional survey was conducted among four ethnic minority groups.A total of 3 906 permanent residents aged 18 years and older were enrolled using a multistage cluster random sampling method.CKM stages(0-4)were defined based on the 2023 American Heart Association criteria,stages 3-4 were classified as advanced CKM.Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used to compare the prevalence of CKM stages across ethnic groups.Modified Poisson regression was applied to estimate relative risk(RR)and 95%confidence intervals(CI)for factors associated with advanced CKM.Results:The prevalence rates of CKM stage 1 and above among the Hani,Dai,Bai and Lisu ethnic groups were 80.1%,87.3%,84.8%and 67.8%,respectively.The prevalence of CKM was generally higher in males than in females,and the prevalence of CKM increased significantly with age.The Dai ethnic group had the highest prevalence of advanced CKM(24.7%,95%CI:22.1%-27.4%),while the Lisu ethnic group had the lowest prevalence of advanced CKM(13.7%,95%CI:11.5%-15.9%).Modified Poisson regression analysis showed that older age and higher body mass index were common risk factors for advanced CKM across all four ethnic groups.Additionally,except for the Lisu ethnic group,the other three ethnic groups had specific individual risk factors:among the Hani ethnic group,low educational attainment(RR=2.18,95%CI:1.12-4.25)and low income(RR=1.47,95%CI:1.00-2.18)were the primary risk factors of CKM.Among the Dai ethnic group,smoking(RR=1.60,95%CI:1.07-2.37)and a family history of cardiovascular disease(RR=1.61,95%CI:1.14-2.27)are the primary risk factors of CKM.Among the Bai ethnic group,male gender(RR=0.48,95%CI:0.29-0.79)was the primary risk factor of CKM.Conclusions:The prevalence of CKM stage 1 or higher is relatively high among the four minority ethnic groups in Yunnan province.There are significant differences in staging characteristics and primary risk factors across ethnic groups,necessitating the development of stratified,differentiated intervention strategies to achieve precise prevention and control and ethnic health equity in terms of CKM.