Yu-Ping-Feng Formula Ameliorates Alveolar-Capillary Barrier Injury Induced by Exhausted-Exercise via Regulation of Cytoskeleton

Cytoskeletal and inter-cellular junction remodelling in endometrial organoids under oxygen-glucose deprivation: a new potential pathological mechanism for thin endometria

STUDY QUESTION

What is the pathological mechanism involved in a thin endometrium, particularly under ischaemic conditions?

SUMMARY ANSWER

Endometrial dysfunction in patients with thin endometrium primarily results from remodelling in cytoskeletons and cellular junctions of endometrial epithelial cells under ischemic conditions.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY

A healthy endometrium is essential for successful embryo implantation and subsequent pregnancy; ischemic conditions in a thin endometrium compromise fertility outcomes.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION

We recruited 10 patients with thin endometrium and 15 patients with healthy endometrium. Doppler ultrasound and immunohistochemical results confirmed the presence of insufficient endometrial blood perfusion in patients with thin endometrium. Organoids were constructed using healthy endometrial tissue and cultured under oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) conditions for 24 h. The morphological, transcriptomic, protein expression, and signaling pathway changes in the OGD organoids were observed. These findings were validated in both thin endometrial tissue and healthy endometrial tissue samples.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS

Endometrial thickness and blood flow were measured during the late follicular phase using transvaginal Doppler ultrasound. Endometrial tissue was obtained via hysteroscopy. Fresh endometrial tissues were used for the generation and culture of human endometrial organoids. Organoids were cultured in an appropriate medium and subjected to OGD to simulate ischemic conditions. Apoptosis and cell death were assessed using Annexin-V/propidium iodide staining. Immunofluorescence analysis, RNA sequencing, western blotting, simple westerns, immunohistochemistry, and electron microscopy were conducted to evaluate cellular and molecular changes.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE

Patients with thin endometrium showed significantly reduced endometrial thickness and altered blood flow patterns compared to those with healthy endometrium. Immunohistochemical staining revealed fewer CD34-positive blood vessels and glands in the thin endometrium group. Organoids cultured under OGD conditions exhibited significant morphological changes, increased apoptosis, and cell death. RNA-seq identified differentially expressed genes related to cytoskeletal remodeling and stress responses. OGD induced a strong cytoskeletal reorganization, mediated by the RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway. Additionally, electron microscopy indicated compromised epithelial integrity and abnormal cell junctions in thin endometrial tissues. Upregulation of hypoxia markers (HIF-1α and HIF-2α) and activation of the RhoA/ROCK pathway were also observed in thin endometrial tissues, suggesting ischemia and hypoxia as underlying mechanisms.

LARGE SCALE DATA

none.

LIMITATIONS AND REASONS FOR CAUTION

The study was conducted in an in vitro model, which may not fully replicate the complexity of in vivo conditions.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS

This research provides a new three-dimensional in vitro model of thin endometrium, as well as novel insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms of endometrial ischaemia in thin endometrium, offering potential avenues for identifying therapeutic targets for treating fertility issues related to thin endometrium.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81925013); National Key Research and Development Project of China (2022YFC2702500, 2021YFC2700303, 2021YFC2700601); the Capital Health Research and Development Project (SF2022-1-4092); the National Natural Science Foundation of China (82288102, 81925013, 82225019, 82192873); Special Project on Capital Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment Technology Research and Transformation Application (Z211100002921054); the Frontiers Medical Center, Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory Foundation(TFJC2023010001). The authors declare that no competing interests exist.

Effects of Yupingfeng Polysaccharides as Feed Supplement on Immune Function and Intestinal Microbiome in Chickens

The health of chicks is closely related to their productivity. Yupingfeng polysaccharide (YPF-P) is a kind of water-soluble polysaccharide extracted from Yupingfeng powder; it has high pharmacological activity and can be used as a potential substitute for antibiotics to improve the health of chicks. This study aimed to investigate the effects of YPF-P on immune performance, the duodenum, and the cecal microflora of chicks. All chickens (4224) were randomly distributed into four groups (eight replicas/group, 132 hens/replica). The control group was fed a basal diet (0 g/kg YPF-P), while the experimental groups were fed basal diets supplemented with 1, 2, or 4 g/kg YPF-P. The results showed that YPF-P significantly increased the thymus index (p < 0.05). The content of total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), immunoglobulin A (IgA), and IgG and immunoglobulin M (IgM) was upregulated in the serum by YPF-P (p < 0.05). YPF-P decreased the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) (p < 0.05). Further, 16S rRNA sequencing showed that 2 g/kg YPF-P modulated the predominant duodenum and cecal microbial community structure, which increased the number of Faecalibacterium, Megamonas, Bacteroides, Alistipes, NK4A214_group, and Enterococcus. In conclusion, YPF-P ameliorated the growth performance of chicks by regulating serum immune and antioxidant balance, as well as the intestinal microbiota.

An updated meta-analysis of Chinese herbal medicine for the prevention of COVID-19 based on Western-Eastern medicine

Background and aims: Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) was used to prevent and treat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in clinical practices. Many studies have demonstrated that the combination of CHM and Western medicine can be more effective in treating COVID-19 compared to Western medicine alone. However, evidence-based studies on the prevention in undiagnosed or suspected cases remain scarce. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effectiveness of CHM in preventing recurrent, new, or suspected COVID-19 diseases. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive search using ten databases including articles published between December 2019 and September 2023. This search aimed to identify studies investigating the use of CHM to prevent COVID-19. Heterogeneity was assessed by a random-effects model. The relative risk (RR) and mean differences were calculated using 95% confidence intervals (CI). The modified Jadad Scale and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) were employed to evaluate the quality of randomized controlled trials and cohort studies, respectively. Results: Seventeen studies with a total of 47,351 patients were included. Results revealed that CHM significantly reduced the incidence of COVID-19 (RR = 0.24, 95% CI = 0.11-0.53, p = 0.0004), influenza (RR = 0.37, 95% CI = 0.18-0.76, p = 0.007), and severe pneumonia exacerbation rate (RR = 0.17, 95% CI = 0.05-0.64, p = 0.009) compared to non-treatment or conventional control group. Evidence evaluation indicated moderate quality evidence for COVID-19 incidence and serum complement components C3 and C4 in randomized controlled trials. For the incidence of influenza and severe pneumonia in RCTs as well as the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ lymphocytes, the evidence quality was low. The remaining outcomes including the disappearance rate of symptoms and adverse reactions were deemed to be of very low quality. Conclusion: CHM presents a promising therapeutic option for the prevention of COVID-19. However, additional high-quality clinical trials are needed to further strengthen evidential integrity.

Adjuvant treatment with yupingfeng granules for recurrent respiratory tract infections in children: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Yupingfeng granules (YPFG) contribute to various chronic respiratory infections. Several clinical studies have evaluated its efficacy and safety in treating recurrent respiratory tract infections (RRTIs) in children. However, the evidence for its use has not been conclusively proven.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of YPFG in the adjuvant treatment of RRTIs in children.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Clinical Trials, Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, Sinomad, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Database, and Chinese Scientific Journals Database (VIP) for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of YPFG adjuvant therapy for children with RRTIs as of September 1, 2022. We screened the literature for inclusion and exclusion criteria, assessed the quality of each included literature, and then extracted data from each study for this systematic review and meta-analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 17 RCTs were included. Data analysis showed that the total clinical response rate in the YPFG group was significantly higher than that in the control group [risk ratio (RR) = 1.18, 95%CI (1.12, 1.24), I ²= 39%, P < 0.00001]. Compared with the control group, three serum immunoglobulin levels were significantly increased in the YPFG group: IgA level [standardized mean difference (SMD) = 1.23, 95%CI (0.68, 1.78), I ² = 95%, P < 0.0001]; IgM level [SMD = 0.85, 95%CI (0.35, 1.35), I ² = 93%, P = 0.0009]; IgG level [SMD = 1.06, 95%CI (0.65, 1.47), I ² = 91%, P < 0.00001]. The TNF-α level was significantly lower in the YPFG group [SMD = -1.03, 95%CI (-1.55, -0.51), I ² = 84%, P = 0.0001] compared with the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, adjuvant YPFG therapy improves clinical efficacy and immunity in children with RRTIs. However, the effectiveness and safety of YPFG remain to be further verified.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

[https://inplasy.com/inplasy-2022-3-0150/], identifier [INPLASY202230150].