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Background: Zishen Qingre Lishi Huayu recipe (ZQLHR) has shown significant therapeutic effects in treating sex hormone levels and follicular developmental disorders in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). However, little is known about the potential mechanisms of its treatment. Methods: Dehydroepiandrosterone and a high‐fat diet induced the PCOS model rat. The serum of rats was collected to detect the levels of sex hormones and inflammatory cytokines by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, and the ovaries were collected for ovarian histopathology and qPCR assay to detect the levels of inflammatory cytokines in ovarian tissues. Granulosa cells (GCs) were collected for western blot assay to detect of IL‐1β, IL‐6R, and LOX protein expression levels. Results: ZQLHR could reduce body weight, regulate estrous cycles, and improve serum sex hormone levels, follicular development, and insulin resistance (IR) in PCOS model rats. In addition, ZQLHR treatment improved the levels of inflammatory cytokines in serum and ovary, and regulated the protein expression of IL‐6R, IL‐1β, and LOX in GCs of PCOS model rats. The results showed that the HOMA‐IR index increased with the increasing levels of IL‐6, IL‐1β, and CRP, and decreased with the increased IL‐10. Conclusion: This study reveals that the treatment of endocrine disorders and ovulation disorders in PCOS with ZQLHR may be closely related to the improvement of systemic and ovarian inflammation in PCOS patients, as well as the inhibition of IL‐6R, IL‐1β, and LOX expression in GCs, which reemphasizes the role of reducing chronic inflammatory states in the treatment of PCOS. Moreover, this study reemphasizes the correlation between multiple inflammatory mediators and IR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose Experimental Approach Key Results Conclusion and Implications Physical activity is an effective therapeutic protocol for treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the mechanisms underlying the benefits of physical activity in COPD are not fully elucidated.In a mouse model of COPD, analysis of biological markers and lung proteomics identified the molecular pathways through which exercise ameliorates COPD.Exercise improved pulmonary function, emphysema, small airway disease, pulmonary inflammation, glucose metabolic dysregulation, and insulin resistance in COPD mice. Proteomic analysis revealed 430 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) between the COPD and COPD + Exercise (COPD + Ex) groups. GO analysis indicated that the enriched pathways were predominantly related to the immune response, inflammatory processes, insulin secretion, and glucose metabolic processes. GO analysis revealed IL‐33 as a crucial target for the exercise‐related amelioration of COPD. KEGG analysis showed that DEPs were significantly enriched in primary immunodeficiency, the intestinal immune network for IgA production, and the NF‐κB signalling pathway. Exercise inhibited NF‐κB activation by suppressing the CD14/TLR4/MyD88 and TNF‐α/TNF‐R1/TRAF2/5 pathways in COPD mice. Exercise inhibited expression of BCR, IgM, IgD, IgG, IgE, and IgA by suppressing B‐cell receptor signalling. Exercise attenuated glucose metabolic dysregulation and insulin resistance through the suppression of proinflammatory mediators, including MHC I, MHC II, TNF‐α, IFN‐γ, and IL‐1β, while concurrently increasing insulin expression. The qRT‐PCR results were consistent with the proteomic results.In a mouse model, exercise improved COPD and its metabolic comorbidities through immune system regulation and inflammation suppression, offering insights into potential therapeutic targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary GAD67 impacts insomnia as a key enzyme catalysing the conversion of glutamate (Glu) to gamma‐aminobutyric acid (GABA). Senegenin enhances neuroprotection and is used widely to treat insomnia and other neurological diseases. This study aimed to investigate how senegenin regulates insomnia through a GAD67‐mediated signalling pathway. We measured GAD67 expression levels in insomnia patients and evaluated the expression levels of GAD67 and Keap1/Nrf2/Parkin/PINK1‐related cytokines following GAD67 lentiviral transfection in PC12 cells and in rat models. We also assessed cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial membrane potential levels. Additionally, EEG/EMG was used to analyse the sleep phases of rats and to assess memory and exploration functions. Pathological changes and the expression of GAD67 and sleep‐related proteins in the hippocampus were examined. The results showed that GAD67 expression was increased in insomnia patients, ROS levels were elevated, and the mitochondrial membrane potential was decreased in the GAD67‐KD group. Insomnia rats exhibited changes in sleep rhythm, learning, and exploration dysfunction, pathological changes in the CA1 region of the hippocampus, and differential expression of GAD67 and sleep‐related factors. Inhibitory neurofactor expression levels were decreased in insomnia rats, showing a positive correlation in the GAD67‐KD group and a negative correlation in the GAD67‐OE group. Conversely, excitatory factor expression levels were increased in insomnia rats, showing a positive correlation in the GAD67‐KD group and a negative correlation in the GAD67‐OE group. Senegenin intervention modulated cytokine expression levels. In conclusion, GAD67 negatively regulates insomnia, and senegenin can regulate insomnia by mediating the expression of cytokines in the GAD67‐regulated Keap1/Nrf2/Parkin/PINK1 pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the effect of Dandi Tablet (DDT), a TCM preparation for tonifying Shen and activating blood circulation, on blood lipids and sex hormones in women of postmenopausal stage., Methods: Seventy-three women were randomly divided into two groups. The 46 subjects in the DDT group were treated with DDT (consisted of prepared Rehmannia Root 24 g, Dogwood Fruit 9 g, Poria 9 g, Water-plantain 9 g, Tuber Peony bark 9 g, Chinese Yam 12 g and Red Sage 15 g, etc.) twice a day, 4 tablets each time. The 27 subjects in the control group were treated with nylestriol (each tablet contains 2.5 mg of 17 alpha-ethynylestriol-3-cyclopentyl ether) 5 mg every month, for 3 successive months. Levels of blood lipids, including total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C, LDL-C), apoprotein A and B (apoA, apoB) and sex hormones, including follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol (E2) were determined before and after treatment., Results: Compared with pre-treatment, after treatment, levels of TC/HDL-C and FSH significantly lowered, HDL-C and E2 increased in both groups (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), levels of TG lowered and apoA increased significantly in the DDT group (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: DDT has the effect of elevating levels of estrogen and improving blood lipid metabolism, therefore shows a coronary heart disease preventive effect in women of postmenopausal stage.