Monotropein is a compound classified into iridoid which is found in herbaceous plants Morindae officinalis. It possesses anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-osteoarthritic activities. Previous study indicates that monotropein may have the potential to combat cardiovascular disease, although the related mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we constructed the model of atherosclerosis by oxidized low density lipoprotein-induced vascular smooth muscle cells and LDLR –/–mice given high-fat diet to investigate the effects of monotropein on atherosclerosis.Our results showed that monotropein treatment significantly reduced the area of atherosclerotic plaques and necrotic cores in mice, inhibited the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells, and reduced inflammatory responses and oxidative stress, which in turn alleviated atherosclerosis. In addition, we found that monotropein reduced the expression levels of P-NF-κB and P-AP-1. In conclusion, our data suggest that monotropein inhibited the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells by mediating the activity of NF-κB, AP-1, reducing the level of inflammation and oxidative stress, and thus resisting the development of atherosclerosis. These findings demonstrate the efficacious therapeutic impact of monotropein on atherosclerosis and elucidate its specific target.

BACKGROUND:Observational studies have shown that intervertebral disc degeneration affects sedentary and physical activity levels;however,the causal relationship between sedentary and physical activity levels in the Oswestry disability index score and intervertebral disc degeneration is unclear. OBJECTIVE:To explore the causal relationship between sedentary and physical activity levels in the Oswestry disability index score and intervertebral disc degeneration using the Mendelian randomization method. METHODS:Five features associated with behavioral correlations in the Oswestry disability index score,including time spent watching TV,time spent on the computer,and light/moderate/vigorous physical activity,were selected from large-scale population-based genome-wide association studies,and instrumental variables were extracted for each of these behaviorally related features.Mendelian randomization analyses were performed in conjunction with the extraction of intervertebral disc degeneration as an outcome from the Finn Gen latest version 9 database.The results were analyzed using the inverse variance weighted,MR-Egger regression,simple mode,weighted mode,weighted median estimator,and regression model odds ratios(OR)and 95%confidence interval(CI)to assess the causal relationship between sedentary and physical activity levels in the Oswestry disability index scoring and intervertebral disc degeneration.Cochran's Q was used to test for heterogeneity,MR-Egger intercept to test for multiplicity,and leave-one-out to test the sensitivity of single nucleotide polymorphisms to the causal relationship between exposure factors and disc degeneration. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The results of the Mendelian randomization analysis using inverse variance weighted method showed a positive causal association between time spent watching TV/on the computer and the risk of intervertebral disc degeneration(OR=1.775,95%CI:1.418-2.221,P<0.001)/(OR=1.384,95%CI:1.041-1.839,P<0.001),an inverse causal association between light physical activity and the risk of intervertebral disc degeneration(OR=1.000,95%CI:0.999-1.000,P=0.020).MR-Egger intercept analysis indicated there was potential horizontal polytropy between light physical activity and intervertebral disc degeneration(P=0.005),while there was no horizontal pleiotropy between time spent watching TV,time spent on the computer and intervertebral disc degeneration(P=0.521,P=0.851).Cochran's Q analysis showed that heterogeneity was observed between time spent watching TV,time spent on the computer and intervertebral disc degeneration(P=3.33×10-11,P=0.001),and no significant heterogeneity was observed between light physical activity and intervertebral disc degeneration(P=0.186).Overall,there is a bidirectional causal relationship between sedentary and physical activity levels in the Oswestry disability index score and intervertebral disc degeneration,i.e.,not only does intervertebral disc degeneration affect sedentary and physical activity levels in the Oswestry disability index score,but sedentary and physical activity levels in the Oswestry disability index score also affect intervertebral disc degeneration.These findings add to the genetic evidence for a positive effect of light physical activity on intervertebral disc degeneration,indicate that moderate/vigorous physical activity shows no significant causal relationship with intervertebral disc degeneration,and expand the evidence base for sedentary behaviors such as prolonged time spent watching TV/on the computer as a risk factor for intervertebral disc degeneration.

Monotropein is a compound classified into iridoid which is found in herbaceous plants Morindae officinalis. It possesses anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-osteoarthritic activities. Previous study indicates that monotropein may have the potential to combat cardiovascular disease, although the related mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we constructed the model of atherosclerosis by oxidized low density lipoprotein-induced vascular smooth muscle cells and LDLR –/–mice given high-fat diet to investigate the effects of monotropein on atherosclerosis.Our results showed that monotropein treatment significantly reduced the area of atherosclerotic plaques and necrotic cores in mice, inhibited the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells, and reduced inflammatory responses and oxidative stress, which in turn alleviated atherosclerosis. In addition, we found that monotropein reduced the expression levels of P-NF-κB and P-AP-1. In conclusion, our data suggest that monotropein inhibited the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells by mediating the activity of NF-κB, AP-1, reducing the level of inflammation and oxidative stress, and thus resisting the development of atherosclerosis. These findings demonstrate the efficacious therapeutic impact of monotropein on atherosclerosis and elucidate its specific target.

Monotropein is a compound classified into iridoid which is found in herbaceous plants Morindae officinalis. It possesses anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-osteoarthritic activities. Previous study indicates that monotropein may have the potential to combat cardiovascular disease, although the related mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we constructed the model of atherosclerosis by oxidized low density lipoprotein-induced vascular smooth muscle cells and LDLR –/–mice given high-fat diet to investigate the effects of monotropein on atherosclerosis.Our results showed that monotropein treatment significantly reduced the area of atherosclerotic plaques and necrotic cores in mice, inhibited the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells, and reduced inflammatory responses and oxidative stress, which in turn alleviated atherosclerosis. In addition, we found that monotropein reduced the expression levels of P-NF-κB and P-AP-1. In conclusion, our data suggest that monotropein inhibited the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells by mediating the activity of NF-κB, AP-1, reducing the level of inflammation and oxidative stress, and thus resisting the development of atherosclerosis. These findings demonstrate the efficacious therapeutic impact of monotropein on atherosclerosis and elucidate its specific target.

Monotropein is a compound classified into iridoid which is found in herbaceous plants Morindae officinalis. It possesses anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-osteoarthritic activities. Previous study indicates that monotropein may have the potential to combat cardiovascular disease, although the related mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we constructed the model of atherosclerosis by oxidized low density lipoprotein-induced vascular smooth muscle cells and LDLR –/–mice given high-fat diet to investigate the effects of monotropein on atherosclerosis.Our results showed that monotropein treatment significantly reduced the area of atherosclerotic plaques and necrotic cores in mice, inhibited the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells, and reduced inflammatory responses and oxidative stress, which in turn alleviated atherosclerosis. In addition, we found that monotropein reduced the expression levels of P-NF-κB and P-AP-1. In conclusion, our data suggest that monotropein inhibited the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells by mediating the activity of NF-κB, AP-1, reducing the level of inflammation and oxidative stress, and thus resisting the development of atherosclerosis. These findings demonstrate the efficacious therapeutic impact of monotropein on atherosclerosis and elucidate its specific target.

Monotropein is a compound classified into iridoid which is found in herbaceous plants Morindae officinalis. It possesses anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-osteoarthritic activities. Previous study indicates that monotropein may have the potential to combat cardiovascular disease, although the related mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we constructed the model of atherosclerosis by oxidized low density lipoprotein-induced vascular smooth muscle cells and LDLR –/–mice given high-fat diet to investigate the effects of monotropein on atherosclerosis.Our results showed that monotropein treatment significantly reduced the area of atherosclerotic plaques and necrotic cores in mice, inhibited the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells, and reduced inflammatory responses and oxidative stress, which in turn alleviated atherosclerosis. In addition, we found that monotropein reduced the expression levels of P-NF-κB and P-AP-1. In conclusion, our data suggest that monotropein inhibited the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells by mediating the activity of NF-κB, AP-1, reducing the level of inflammation and oxidative stress, and thus resisting the development of atherosclerosis. These findings demonstrate the efficacious therapeutic impact of monotropein on atherosclerosis and elucidate its specific target.

In recent years， the incidence and mortality rates of cancer have been increasing， posing a serious threat to human health. Western medicine mainly uses treatments such as surgical resection， chemotherapy， immunotherapy and targeted therapy， but they are prone to complications， drug resistance and adverse reactions. A growing number of studies have shown that traditional Chinese medicine has obvious advantages in the treatment of cancer， reducing the recurrence rate of cancer and improving the quality of survival of patients. Cellular senescence refers to a state of irreversible cell cycle growth arrest when cells cease to proliferate after a limited number of divisions， resulting in a decline in cell proliferation and differentiation capacities and physiological functions， accompanied by morphological changes such as flattening and multinuclear morphology. At the molecular level， it shows increased expression of DNA damage-related genes， reduced expression of cell cycle-related factors and significant secretory activity. The malignant development of cancer is closely related to cellular senescence. With the increasing number of cancer cell proliferation， cancer-related genes undergo continuous mutations， freeing them from cellular senescence and thus achieving unlimited proliferation. Through recent studies， it has been found that induction of tumor cell senescence， possibly through modulation of cellular DNA damage， cell cycle arrest and senescence-associated secretory phenotype （SASP）， which converts the suppressive immune tumor microenvironment to an activated immune tumor microenvironment and thus reverses the escape of tumor cell senescence， is a promising strategy for cancer therapy. However， the mechanism of cellular senescence in cancer progression is not fully understood， especially the anti-cancer role played by traditional Chinese medicine in regulating cellular senescence. This article summarized and concluded the specific molecular mechanisms of cellular senescence， the role of cellular senescence in cancer progression， and the mechanism of anti-cancer effects of traditional Chinese medicine based on cellular senescence from the perspective of regulating cellular senescence， with a view to providing ideas and methods for the anti-cancer effects of traditional Chinese medicine and the development of new drugs.

BACKGROUND:It has been found in recent observational studies that assessing localized fat mass is crucial in the evaluation of disc degeneration.Although obesity has been recognized as a risk factor for disc degeneration,the causal relationship between fat mass,which is a key factor in obesity,and intervertebral disc degeneration has been unclear in previous studies. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the causal risk factors of intervertebral disc degeneration associated with different distributions of fat mass,thereby enhancing the understanding of the pathogenesis of intervertebral disc degeneration and contributing to the development of preventive,therapeutic,and prognostic strategies. METHODS:Genetic markers associated with trunk and lower limb fat mass were extracted as instrumental variables from the publicly available IEU Open GWAS under the conditions of strong correlation and fulfillment of linkage disequilibrium.These markers were combined with the Mendelian randomization analysis to investigate the relationship between body fat and intervertebral disc degeneration.We used the latest version 9 database of FinnGen and assessed the results using several regression models,including inverse variance weighting,MR-Egger regression,simple mode,weighted mode,and weighted median estimator.We also assessed the heterogeneity of the genetic markers using Cochran's Q test,and multiplicity was assessed using the MR-Egger intercept test.Additionally,we used the leave-one-out method to determine the sensitivity of individual genetic markers to the causal effect of the exposure and outcome.The results were presented as odds ratios(OR)and 95%confidence intervals(CI). RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The results from the inverse variance weighting method revealed that there was a positive causal relationship between trunk fat mass and the risk of developing intervertebral disc degeneration(OR=1.25,95%CI:1.15-1.35,P＜0.001).Additionally,there was an inverse causal relationship between bilateral lower limb fat mass and the risk of developing intervertebral disc degeneration(OR=0.7,95%CI:0.63-0.78,P＜0.001;OR=0.69,95%CI:0.62-0.76,P＜0.001).Furthermore,the MR-Egger intercept analysis did not detect any potential horizontal pleiotropy.No bias single nucleotide polymorphisms were detected,while heterogeneity tests were present,and the leave-one-out sensitivity analysis suggested reliable results.The results above demonstrate a positive causal relationship between trunk fat mass and intervertebral disc degeneration.As trunk fat mass increases,the risk of intervertebral disc degeneration rises.With an increase in both lower limb fat mass,the risk of intervertebral disc degeneration decreases.Fat content and distribution affects the risk of developing intervertebral disc degeneration and should be given more attention.

Objective To investigate the relationship between the central foveal thickness(CFT),ellipsoid zone(EZ)interruption ratio and best corrected visual acuity(BCVA)in patients with idiopathic epiretinal membranes(iERM).Methods A retrospective case-control study was conducted.The cluster sampling method was used to select 336 iERM patients(500 eyes)who underwent physical examinations in 9 community hospitals of the Kailuan Group from 2014 to 2018.Among them,215 were male(64.0％)and 121 were female(36.0％),with an average age of 31-89(66.4±8.8)years.According to the gass classification,these patients were divided into three groups:gass 0 group(201 patients,305 eyes),gass 1 group(75 patients,101 eyes),and gass 2 group(60 patients,94 eyes).Pearson correlation analysis was used to evaluate the correlation between BCVA(converted to logMAR visual acuity)and gass classification,EZ interruption ratio,CFT.Results The average BCVA(logMAR)and CFT of 500 eyes were 0.45±0.28 and(337.6±101.8)μm,re-spectively,with EZ interruption in 86 eyes(17.2％).There were statistically significant differences in BCVA(logMAR)(0.62±0.29,0.48±0.23,0.26±0.32),CFT[(283.20±79.30)μm,(335.50±84.50)μm,(394.00±135.60)μm],and EZ interruption ratio(2.6％,20.8％,60.6％)among gass 0,gass 1 and gass 2 groups(all P＜0.05).Pearson correlation analysis showed that there was no correlation between age and BCVA among different groups(r2=0.021,P=0.314);BCVA was positively correlated with CFT(r2=0.531,P=0.000),EZ interruption ratio(r2=0.304,P=0.000),and gass classification(r2=0.587,P=0.000).Conclusion The EZ interruption may occur in the early stage of iERM.BCVA is correlated with CFT,EZ interruption ratio and gass classification;the incidence of EZ interruption in gass 2 iERM signifi-cantly increases.

OBJECTIVE To establish a method for determining the content of 11 antioxidants and their degradation products in recombinant Exendin-4-FC fusion protein injection by HPLC. METHODS The protein was precipitated with saturated ammonium sulfate. After centrifugation, the supernatant was transferred to a C18 solid phase extraction cartridge activated by methanol. Then the cartridge was eluted with 4 mL of methanol and 5 mL of ethyl acetate respectively, and the eluent was diluted with methanol-ethyl acetate(2∶3) mixed solvent and passed through a 0.22 µm PTFE hydrophobic filter. It was analyzed by HPLC and quantified by external standard method. Chromatographic conditions: Kinetex® XB-C18 100Å (100 mm×4.6 mm, 2.6 µm)column, the detection wavelength was 230 nm, the column oven was 30 ℃, the injection volume was 5 µL and the flow rate was 0.4 mL·min–1, mobile phase was 0.1% formic acid-methanol(A)-0.1% formic acid aqueous solution(B), the running time was 45 min. RESULTS The 11 target substances showed a good linear relationship in the range of 2.5−35 μg·mL–1 with R2 ≥0.99. At three different concentration(25, 10, 5 μg·mL–1) of spiked samples, the average recovery rates of 11 antioxidants ranged from 88.1% to 106.5%, with RSDs in the range of 0.10%–9.05%. The RSDs of 6 repeatable samples was 2.01%–4.77%, which of 12 intermediate precision samples was 2.58%–9.75%. The positive/inverted samples of three batches of recombinant Exendin-4-FC fusion protein injection were detected at 0 month, 3 months and 6 months(25 ℃), and the results showed that there was no antioxidant and its degradation leaching in all batches of samples at different detection points. CONCLUSION The method has good specificity, high accuracy and precision, good solution stability, high durability and can be used for the content detection of antioxidants in drugs.