Nourishing Kidney Promoting Ovulation Decoction (NKPOD) Attenuates Polycystic Ovary Syndrome by Downregulating miRNA-224.

Background: Currently, exploring effective agents is urgently required for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) treatment. Although nourishing kidney promoting ovulation decoction (NKPOD) as a traditional Chinese medicine decoction is widely employed to increase pregnancy rates, whether NKPOD attenuates ovulation disorders in PCOS patients remains unknown. Here, we aim to explore the clinical significance and the underlying mechanisms of NKPOD in ovulation disorders. Methods: PCOS patients were recruited to confirm the clinical significance of NKPOD in attenuating ovulation disorder. Subsequently, regulation targets of NKPOD were identified through network pharmacology analysis. Additionally, a series of experiments were performed to observe the impacts of NKPOD on miRNA-224 transcription through transcription factor AR. Results: In this study, NKPOD administration improved hormone dysregulation and reproductive outcomes in PCOS patients. Interestingly, 100 potential targets related to NKPOD and PCOS were screened, and transcription regulation was observed to be the most enriched function. Mechanistically, NKPOD inhibited miRNA-224 transcription through reducing AR expression, in which AR as a transcription factor directly regulated miRNA-224 transcription. Conclusions: Collectively, these findings highlight the therapeutic effect of NKPOD on PCOS, which could provide promising therapeutic agents for PCOS.

Black goji as a potential source of natural color in a wide pH range.

Lycium ruthenicum Murr. is a traditional Chinese herb widely distributed in Tibet. The fruit, known as black goji, is popular in traditional Chinese medicine. The objective of this study was to investigate its anthocyanin profile (by HPLC coupled to PDA and MS detectors) and the colorimetric and spectrophotometric properties. Black goji extracts contained abundant petunidin derivatives, with cis and trans isomers of petunidin-3-p-coumaroyl-rutinoside-5-glucoside. The colorimetric and spectrophotometric traits of black goji anthocyanins were significantly impacted by solid-phase-extraction, pH, and acylation. MCX cartridge removed considerable polyphenolics from fruit extracts, but attenuated the saturation of color expression. Petunidin-3-trans-p-coumaroyl-rutinoside-5-glucoside contributed most of the color expression of the black goji extract, and showed superior stability compared to other extracts over time. Acylation strengthened the petunidin derivatives color retention, and enhanced the color intensity and stability. Black goji anthocyanins produced various vivid hues over wide ranges of pH, making them promising candidates for natural colorants.

Glutathione peroxidase 4 inhibits Wnt/ß-catenin signaling and regulates dorsal organizer formation in zebrafish embryos.

The Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway plays pivotal roles in axis formation during embryogenesis and in adult tissue homeostasis. Glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) is a selenoenzyme and participates in the reduction of peroxides. Its synthesis depends on the availability of the element selenium. However, the roles of GPX4 in vertebrate embryonic development and underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. Here, we show that maternal loss of zebrafish gpx4b promotes embryonic dorsal organizer formation, whereas overexpression of gpx4b inhibits the development of the dorsal organizer. Depletion of human GPX4 and zebrafish gpx4b (GPX4/gpx4b) increases, while GPX4/gpx4b overexpression decreases, Wnt/ß-catenin signaling in vivo and in vitro Functional and epistatic studies showed that GPX4 functions at the Tcf/Lef level, independently of selenocysteine activation. Mechanistically, GPX4 interacts with Tcf/Lefs and inhibits Wnt activity by preventing the binding of Tcf/Lefs to the promoters of Wnt target genes, resulting in inhibitory action in the presence of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling. Our findings unravel GPX4 as a suppressor of Wnt/ß-catenin signals, suggesting a possible relationship between the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway and selenium via the association of Tcf/Lef family proteins with GPX4.

[Distribution Laws of PCOS Syndrome Types and Features of Sex Hormone Levels and Glucose Metabolism].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze distribution laws of polycystic ovary syndrome PCOS) syndrome types and features of sex hormone levels and glucose metabolism, providing evidence for clinical syndrome typing, diagnosis and treatment. METHODS: Totally 237 PCOS patient were recruited. Their basic information and clinical data were collected and syndrome typed as Shen yin deficiency type, Shen yang deficiency type, Gan depression type, phlegm dampness type, blood stasis type. Data were analyzed by using SPSS21. 0 Software package. Basic features, hormone levels, and glucose metabolism were observed in patients with different syndrome types. RESULTS: (1) The laws of syndrome distribution: Shen yin deficiency type in 46 cases (19. 41%), Shen yang deficiency type in 61 cases (25. 74%), Gan depression type in 48 cases (20. 25%), phlegm dampness type in 46 cases (19. 41%), blood stasis type in 36 cases (15.19%). (2) The levels of sex hormones: Compared with patients with Shen yin deficiency type, luteinizing hormone (LH) was higher in patients with Shen yang deficiency type (P <0. 01 , P <0. 05) ; LH was lower in patients with Gan depression type and phlegm dampness type (P <0. 01 , P <0. 05) ; follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) was lower in patients with phlegm dampness type (P <0.05); LH/FSH ratio was higher in patients with Shen yang deficiency type (P <0. 01); testosterone (T) level was lower in patients with Gan depression type and blood stasis type (P <0. 05, P <0. 01) ; prolactin (PRL) level was higher in patients with blood stasis type and phlegm dampness type (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). Compared with patients with Shen yang deficiency type, LH level and LH/FSH ratio were lower in patients with Gan depression type, phlegm dampness type, and blood stasis type (P <0. 01) ; FSH was lower in patients with phlegm dampness type (P<0.05); T was also lower in patients with Gan depression type and blood stasis type (P <0.05, P < 0.01); PRL was higher in patients with Gan depression type and phlegm dampness type (P <0.01, P < 0. 05). Compared with patients with Gan depression type, PRL was lower in patients with phlegm dampness type and blood stasis type (P <0. 01). Ddehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) level was the lowest in patients with blood stasis type (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). There was no statistical difference in estradiol (E2) among all groups (P>0.05). (3) The characteristics of glucose metabolism: Compared with patients with phlegm dampness type, fasting insulin (FINS), 2 h insulin (INS 2 h) , 3 h insulin (INS 3 h) , insulin/glucose (I/G), homeostatic model for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were lower in patients with Shen yin deficiency type, Shen yang deficiency type, Gan depression type, blood stasis type (P <0. 01) ; islet ß-cell function index (HOMA-ß) was lower in patients with Shen yang deficiency type, Gan depression type, blood stasis type (all P <0. 01); 2 h glucose (GLU 2 h) was lower in patients with Shen yin deficiency type, Shen yang deficiency type, blood stasis type (P <0. 05, P <0. 01); 3 h glucose (GLU 3 h) was lower in patients with Shen yin deficiency type (P <0. 05). Compared with patients with Gan depression type, INS 2 h and GLU 2 h were also lower patients with Shen yin deficiency type (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). CONCLUSIONS: There exists certain distribution laws of syndrome types in PCOS patients. Besides, different syndrome types had certain relevance with sex hormone and glucose metabolism features.