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.

ObjectiveDonkey hide is the sole legally designated raw material for the preparation of the traditional Chinese medicine Ejiao. The quality stability of donkey hide during preservation directly determines the efficacy and safety of Ejiao. This study focuses on the dynamic succession of microbial communities during the preservation of donkey hides from different origins, aiming to clarify the correlation between microbial biodiversity difference and the degradation profiles of hide collagen and critical biochemical components, thereby providing a theoretical foundation for developing targeted preservation strategies based on microbial regulation. MethodsDonkey hides originating from four different regions were subjected to an accelerated microbial aging assay to simulate the spoilage process. The microbial community succession was analyzed using high-throughput sequencing. Microstructure changes and pore structure characteristics were assessed by scanning electron microscopy and mercury intrusion porosimetry, respectively. Additionally, the content of major components, including lipids, proteins, and sugars were determined by biochemical methods. ResultsAfter 96 h of aging, the collagen fiber structure in Africa donkey hides (ADH) exhibited significant degradation and collapse, followed by Xinjiang donkey hides (XDH). Instead, the microstructure of Dong’e black donkey hides (DDH) and Peru donkey hides (PDH) remained relatively intact. The porosities of DDH, XDH, PDH, and ADH increased from 27.9%, 15.7%, 30.3%, and 46.2% to 36.5%, 52.6%, 42.8%, and 57.7%, respectively, during the aging process, which suggested that the originally compact fiber structure was disrupted by microbial aging. Fourier transform infrared spectrometer analysis revealed the amide bands in XDH exhibited relatively weak intensity, and no collagen amide I band was observed in ADH. Meanwhile, the lipid and protein contents decreased in all four types of donkey hides, indicating that these components served as the primary nutrient sources for the growth of microorganism. Notably, the most severe collagen degradation was observed in XDH and ADH. A substantial increase was detected in the total soluble sugar in PDH aging solution and hydroxyproline in the ADH aging solution, respectively. These results indicated that donkey hides exhibit distinct patterns of structural degradation and nutrient utilization. Furthermore, the viable cells number of donkey hides increased sharply after 48 h of aging. Metagenomic analysis revealed that the relative abundance of Euryarchaeota in ADH, PDH and XDH declining from initial 93.19%, 97.73% and 30.08% to 0.79%, 1.43% and 0.02% after 96 h, respectively. Conversely, a significantly increase was observed in the abundance of Bacillota, with a marked increase in ADH, peaking at 92.75%. Additionally, the abundance of Pseudomonadota in PDH increased from 0.10% to 87.84%, suggesting that Bacillota and Pseudomonadota may be key factors exacerbating donkey hide spoilage. Unlike the other three types of donkey hides, the dominant bacterial phylum in DDH shifted from Pseudomonadota to Bacteroidota, characterized by a substantial abundance increase of Bacteroidota from 0.13% to 44.22%. ConclusionRegional variation in origin significantly influence the microbial aging of donkey hides, leading to distinct patterns of structural deterioration and differential nutrient utilization. Therefore, implementing origin-specific preservation strategies, through the precisely controlling environmental factors to suppress harmful phyla such as Bacillota and Pseudomonadota, is crucial for enhancing the storage quality of donkey hides.

Neurological disorders such as post-stroke hemiplegia, spinal cord injury, and Parkinson disease represent a major global health burden. Brain-computer interface (BCI), which creates direct communication pathways between the nervous system and external devices, offers a promising strategy for functional restoration. The long-term efficacy of such BCI fundamentally depends on the performance of biomaterials at the neural interface. Ideal materials must concurrently satisfy biocompatibility, electrical conductivity, enduring chemical stability, and mechanical compatibility with brain tissue. This review systematically outlines the application of conductive polymers, inorganic nanomaterials, natural biomaterials, and composites in BCI, with a focus on how advanced designs, such as bionic and encapsulated electrodes, improve signal fidelity and surgical feasibility through structural innovation. It further summarizes key material-modification techniques and analyzes the complex foreign-body response orchestrated by microglia, astrocytes, and peripheral immune cells. Finally, it provides insights into future research directions and clinical translation of BCI-based neurorehabilitation, while highlighting critical challenges including long-term biosafety and the establishment of standardized evaluation frameworks, aiming to bridge the gap between laboratory innovation and effective clinical deployment.

Abelmoschi Corolla is extensively applied in managing diabetic nephropathy (DN) and other renal conditions due to its diuretic and detoxifying properties. The primary bioactive constituents of Abelmoschi Corolla are flavonoids, including notably rutin, hyperoside, isoquercitrin, hibifolin, myricetin, quercetin 3-O-β-D-glucuronide, and quercetin. These flavonoid components can influence the pathological progression of DN via a multi-target synergistic mechanism, effectively reducing proteinuria levels. This review examines the roles of Abelmoschi Corolla and its flavonoid components in modulating the key pathological aspects of DN and their underlying mechanisms, and briefly discusses the metabolic patterns of its bioactive components and the research progress in combined medication, aiming to provide a forward-looking scientific foundation for further investigating the molecular mechanisms and clinical applications of Abelmoschi Corolla in DN treatment.

BACKGROUND:One of the advantages of clear aligner treatment is molar distalization.However,tooth tilting movement and loss of anterior anchorage may occur during treatment.There are few studies on whether these problems can be improved by selecting clear aligners with different thicknesses and edges to improve the clinical treatment effect.OBJECTIVE:To analyze the control ability of clear aligners with different thickness and edges on the central incisor,lateral incisor,and second molar when pushing the maxillary second molar distally by three-dimensional finite element analysis.METHODS:Three-dimensional finite element analysis models of bilateral maxillary second molar distalization with clear aligner,maxillary dentition,periodontal ligament,and alveolar bone with different thicknesses and margins were established by Mimics,Geomagic Wrap,3-matic and SolidWorks software,respectively.There were 16 combinations of four thicknesses(0.4,0.5,0.625,and 0.75 mm)and four margins(scallop,straight,straight extension 2 mm and straight extension 4 mm).The data were imported into Ansys Workbench software for design and solution.The mean value,peak value and distribution of the periodontal ligament equivalent stress of the second molar,the equivalent stress and the maximum initial displacement of the second molar,and the control ability of each appliance on the second molar,central incisor,and lateral incisor were analyzed.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The mean equivalent stress of periodontal ligament of the second molar,the equivalent stress of the second molar and the maximum initial displacement of the second molar increased with the extension of the appliance edge and the increase of the thickness of the appliance in the 16 groups of models.(2)When the thickness of appliances was the same,the maximum equivalent stress of the second molar in the linear appliance group was the highest,and the maximum equivalent stress of the second molar in the linear extended appliance group was greater than that in the scallop appliance group.When the edge of the appliance was the same,the periodontal ligament equivalent stress peak of the second molar increased with the increase of the thickness of the appliance.The equivalent stress distribution in the periodontal ligament of the second molar in the linear extendable appliance group was more uniform than that in the scallop appliance group and the linear appliance group.(3)When the thickness of the appliance was the same,the scallop-shaped appliance had the worst control on the second molar.When the edge of the appliance was the same,with the increase of the thickness of the appliance,the control of the second molar by the linear extender appliance was gradually stronger than that by the linear appliance.The control of the central incisor was stronger and more stable with the linear extended 2 mm appliance,while the control of the lateral incisor was stronger and more stable with the linear appliance.(4)The results showed that when using clear aligners to push molars distally,extending the edge of the appliance could improve the control of the molars and reduce the tilting movement of the teeth.The design of a straight extension margin of 2 mm for the central incisor and a straight edge for the lateral incisor can enhance the control of the anchorage incisor and reduce the labial inclination of the anterior teeth.

BACKGROUND:One of the advantages of clear aligner treatment is molar distalization.However,tooth tilting movement and loss of anterior anchorage may occur during treatment.There are few studies on whether these problems can be improved by selecting clear aligners with different thicknesses and edges to improve the clinical treatment effect.OBJECTIVE:To analyze the control ability of clear aligners with different thickness and edges on the central incisor,lateral incisor,and second molar when pushing the maxillary second molar distally by three-dimensional finite element analysis.METHODS:Three-dimensional finite element analysis models of bilateral maxillary second molar distalization with clear aligner,maxillary dentition,periodontal ligament,and alveolar bone with different thicknesses and margins were established by Mimics,Geomagic Wrap,3-matic and SolidWorks software,respectively.There were 16 combinations of four thicknesses(0.4,0.5,0.625,and 0.75 mm)and four margins(scallop,straight,straight extension 2 mm and straight extension 4 mm).The data were imported into Ansys Workbench software for design and solution.The mean value,peak value and distribution of the periodontal ligament equivalent stress of the second molar,the equivalent stress and the maximum initial displacement of the second molar,and the control ability of each appliance on the second molar,central incisor,and lateral incisor were analyzed.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The mean equivalent stress of periodontal ligament of the second molar,the equivalent stress of the second molar and the maximum initial displacement of the second molar increased with the extension of the appliance edge and the increase of the thickness of the appliance in the 16 groups of models.(2)When the thickness of appliances was the same,the maximum equivalent stress of the second molar in the linear appliance group was the highest,and the maximum equivalent stress of the second molar in the linear extended appliance group was greater than that in the scallop appliance group.When the edge of the appliance was the same,the periodontal ligament equivalent stress peak of the second molar increased with the increase of the thickness of the appliance.The equivalent stress distribution in the periodontal ligament of the second molar in the linear extendable appliance group was more uniform than that in the scallop appliance group and the linear appliance group.(3)When the thickness of the appliance was the same,the scallop-shaped appliance had the worst control on the second molar.When the edge of the appliance was the same,with the increase of the thickness of the appliance,the control of the second molar by the linear extender appliance was gradually stronger than that by the linear appliance.The control of the central incisor was stronger and more stable with the linear extended 2 mm appliance,while the control of the lateral incisor was stronger and more stable with the linear appliance.(4)The results showed that when using clear aligners to push molars distally,extending the edge of the appliance could improve the control of the molars and reduce the tilting movement of the teeth.The design of a straight extension margin of 2 mm for the central incisor and a straight edge for the lateral incisor can enhance the control of the anchorage incisor and reduce the labial inclination of the anterior teeth.

This paper aimed to systematically evaluate the effects of hypoxic training at different fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO₂) on body composition, glucose metabolism, and lipid metabolism in obese individuals, and to determine the optimal oxygen concentration range to provide scientific evidence for personalized and precise hypoxic exercise prescriptions. A systematic search was conducted in the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and CNKI databases for randomized controlled trials and pre-post intervention studies published up to March 31, 2025, involving hypoxic training interventions in obese populations. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4 software to assess the effects of different fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO₂≤14% vs. FiO₂>14%) on BMI, body fat percentage, waist circumference, fasting blood glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), with subgroup analyses based on oxygen concentration. A total of 22 studies involving 292 participants were included. Meta-analysis showed that hypoxic training significantly reduced BMI (mean difference (MD)=-2.29,95%CI: -3.42 to -1.17, P<0.000 1), body fat percentage (MD=-2.32, 95%CI: -3.16 to -1.47, P<0.001), waist circumference (MD=-3.79, 95%CI: -6.73 to -0.85, P=0.01), fasting blood glucose (MD=-3.58, 95%CI: -6.23 to -0.93, P=0.008), insulin (MD=-1.60, 95%CI: -2.98 to -0.22, P=0.02), TG (MD=-0.18, 95%CI: -0.25 to -0.12, P<0.001), and LDL-C (MD=-0.25, 95%CI: -0.39 to -0.11, P=0.000 3). Greater improvements were observed under moderate hypoxic conditions with FiO₂>14%. Changes in HOMA-IR (MD=-0.74, 95%CI: -1.52 to 0.04,P=0.06) and HDL-C (MD=-0.09, 95%CI: -0.21 to 0.02, P=0.11) were not statistically significant. Hypoxic training can significantly improve body composition, glucose metabolism, and lipid metabolism indicators in obese individuals, with greater benefits observed under moderate hypoxia (FiO>14%). As a key parameter in hypoxic exercise interventions, the precise setting of oxygen concentration is crucial for optimizing intervention outcomes.

Objective To investigate the effect of triptolide on cerebral ischemia- reperfusion injury （CIRI） and explore its molecular mechanism. Methods One hundred and forty-four Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham operation group, model group, low, medium, high dose of triptolide group and butylphthalide group, with 24 rats in each group. The CIRI rat model was established by blocking the middle cerebral artery for 2 hours. 3 days before modeling, the rats in each group were ip administration once a day. 24 hours after reperfusion, the neurological deficit score was detected, the rate of cerebral infarction was measured by TTC staining, the blood brain barrier （BBB） permeability was detected by EB penetration test. The pathological changes neurons in the ischemic penumbra cortex were observed by HE and TUNEL staining. The content of inflammatory factors in ischemic cerebral cortex were detected by Elisa method. The expression of TLR4/NF-κB pathway related proteins were detected by Western blot. Results Compared with the model group, the neurological deficit score, cerebral infarction rate and EB content in the triptolide middle, high dose groups and the butylphthalide group were significantly decreased （P<0.05）. The pathological changes of cortical neurons in the ischemic penumbra were significantly improved, and the apoptosis rate of neurons was significantly decreased （P<0.05）. The content of TNF-α, IL-1β and the expression of TLR4, p-NF-κB, cleaved caspase-3, Bax were significantly decreased, the expression of Bcl-2 was significantly increased, the ratio of p-NF-κB/NF-κB and Bax/Bcl-2 were significantly decreased （P<0.05）. The regulatory effect of the high dose triptolide group on various detection indexes were better than that of the butylphthalide group （P<0.05）. Conclusion Triptolide could protect the permeability of BBB, improve the neurological deficit and neuropathy in CIRI rats, and reduce the rate of cerebral infarction, its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of TLR4/NF-κB pathway and which mediated inflammatory response and neuronal apoptosis.

Objective To compare the results obtained from an artificial intelligence (AI)-based chromosome image scanning and processing system, the Metafer 4 chromosome scanning and analysis system, and manual analysis of dicentric chromosomes, and to explore the feasibility of applying AI technology for dicentric chromosome detection and biological dose estimation. Methods Healthy human elbow vein blood was collected and subjected to ⁶⁰Co in vitro irradiation. Chromosome samples were prepared using conventional methods. The slides were scanned and automatically analyzed using the AI-based system and the Metafer 4 system. The results were manually analyzed and confirmed. Results The number of cells was comparable between the AI-based system and the Metafer 4 system. However, the scanning speed of the AI-based system was 4.5 seconds per image, which was significantly faster than the 7.3 seconds per image of the Metafer 4 system (t = −6.19, P < 0.05). At a confidence level of 0.7, the AI-based system demonstrated a true positive rate of 96.7% and a false positive rate of 6.5%, which were significantly better than the true positive rate (45.4%-54.5%) and false positive rate (22.2%-29.2%) of the Metafer 4 system (all P < 0.05). In the biological dose estimation, the deviation of the dose-response curve was ≤ ± 10% in the automatic analysis using the Metafer 4 system. Due to the use of the manual dose-response curve, the deviation of the AI-based System was ≤ ± 15%. However, there were no significant differences in the estimated doses when the two systems were compared with the manual analysis (P > 0.05). Conclusion Both the AI-based chromosome image scanning and processing system and the Metafer 4 chromosome scanning and analysis system greatly improved the analysis speed of chromosome aberrations. However, the scanning speed, true positive rate, and false positive rate of the AI-based system were superior to those of the Metafer 4 system. Therefore, the AI-based system is more suitable for rapid and high-throughput biological dose estimation in large-scale radiation accidents.

Objective: To explore the potential category patterns of risk prevention and control behaviors of HIV infection among young students who have sex with men (MSM) and their impact on HIV infection and late detection, aiming to optimize intervention strategies. Methods: From September 2017 to December 2024, a total of 1 637 MSM young students in Tianjin were recruited through both online and offline channels. Latent class analysis was applied to classify 11 HIV risk prevention and control behaviors [condom use during the most recent anal sex in the past 6 months, consistent condom use, use of water based lubricants, abstinence from recreational drugs, regular on site professional testing, fixed sexual partners, partner testing, awareness of partner s HIV testing results, testing before sexual activity, nucleic acid testing, and use of pre exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) or post exposure prophylaxis (PEP)]. Multivariate Logistic regression analyzed associations between demographic characteristics/intervention services factors and latent classes. Differences in HIV infection and late detection across behavior patterns were compared. Results: HIV risk prevention and control behaviors among MSM students were classified into three latent classes:condom dependent group (38.42%), low prevention group (27.73%), and comprehensive prevention group (33.85%). Students who received condom promotion/testing services were more likely to belong to the comprehensive prevention group ( OR =5.58), while those who received peer education were less likely to the comprehensive prevention group ( OR =0.43) (both P <0.01). Among the MSM student population, the HIV infection rate was 4.83%, with 2.26% of cases detected late. The HIV infection rate (1.45%) and late detection proportion (0.82%) in the comprehensive prevention group were lower than those in the low prevention group (7.89% and 3.83%, respectively) ( χ 2=16.20, 7.31, both P <0.01). Conclusions HIV risk prevention and control behaviors among MSM young students exhibit significant heterogeneity. Comprehensive prevention strategies can effectively reduce HIV infection and late detection risks. It is necessary to optimize peer education content and improve the accessibility of diversified prevention measures such as PrEP/PEP to enhance HIV prevention and control.