Menopause in women with chronic immunosuppressive treatment - how to help those patients

Differential analysis of quantitative proteome and acetyl-proteome profiling between premenopausal and postmenopausal ovarian tissues

BACKGROUND

Natural menopause is always accompanied by specific signs and symptoms, suggesting physiological changes in this peoriod. However, no systematic study has assessed the changes at molecular level in the ovaries during the menopausal transition so far. This study integrated quantitative proteome and acetyl-proteome to comprehensively uncover the changes of ovarian protein and protein-acetylation profiles in this transitional period. The findings would provide novel insights into the biology of menopause and help relieve and treat the associated signs and symptoms, further improving the women's health care.

METHODS

Freshly thawed ovarian tissue samples obtained from premenopausal and postmenopausal women were assessed with Tandem Mass Tags for the quantitative analysis of the global profile and acetyl-proteomes by 2-dimensional separation and LC-MS/MS.

RESULTS

Comprehensively, 4210 types of protein, with 3551 types quantifiable were detected. 3047 acetylated sites in 1583 types of protein with 2256 quantifiable in 1248 proteins were detected. By comparing the global and acetylated proteome profiles for postmenopausal women and premenopausal women, 151 types of proteins were found upregulated and 65 were downregulated, along with 23 acetylated sites upregulated and 220 sites downregulated. For Immune response, the complement and coagulation cascades plus the citrate cycle and cellular detoxification were found to be significantly enhanced, while the extracellular structure and matrix organization, ECM-receptor interactions plus the infections were markedly suppressed. In addition, the amino acids around the acetylated sites were enriched by motif analysis, which can help us uncover amino acid sequence and search for the specific target in the subsequent study.

CONCLUSION

Global and acetylated proteome Profiles in ovary differ between the premenopausal and postmenopausal groups. These proteomic-level changes may offer some potential biological markers to identify the pathological changes in ovary and help relieve and treat the associated signs and symptoms, and ultimately improve women's health care.

Research on Establishment of Abnormal Phlegmatic Syndrome with Premature Ovarian Failure Rat Model and Effects of Balgham Munziq Treatment

This study aimed to establish and explore the biological basis of abnormal phlegmatic syndrome with premature ovarian failure (POF) model in rats based on the Uighur medicine (UM) in the first place and investigate the effects of unique herbal medicine, Balgham Munziq (BMq). Mature female Wistar rats were fed with spinach and coriander in cold and humid condition for approximately 20 weeks until abnormal phlegmatic syndrome (APS) model was established. When APS model was confirmed by Uighur medical experts, APS with POF disease rats were subdivided into APS with POF disease model group and APS with POF disease treated with BMq group; the rest of them were subdivided into APS model group and APS treated with BMq group. The results show that biological characteristics of animals in the course of modeling period were in accordance with clinical features of abnormal phlegmatic syndrome (APS) in Uighur medicine. Herbal medicine BMq not only reverted reproductive hormone levels disorders but also improved the function of hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis and regulated secretion of monoamine neurotransmitters. APS is most likely to cause pathological changes of hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis and lead to the occurrence of POF and BMq is effective in the treatment of APS with POF disease.

Isoflavones, calcium, vitamin D and inulin improve quality of life, sexual function, body composition and metabolic parameters in menopausal women: result from a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study

Introduction

Menopause results in metabolic changes that contribute to increase risk of cardiovascular diseases: increase in low density lipoprotein (LDL) and triglycerides and decrease in high density lipoprotein (HDL), weight gain are associated with a correspondent increase in incidence of hypertension and diabetes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a preparation of isoflavones, calcium vitamin D and inulin in menopausal women.

Material and methods

We performed a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study. A total of 50 patients were randomized to receive either oral preparations of isoflavones (40 mg), calcium (500 mg) vitamin D (300 UI) and inulin (3 g) or placebo (control group). Pre- and post-treatment assessment of quality of life and sexual function were performed through Menopause-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (MENQOL) and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI); evaluations of anthropometric indicators, body composition through bioelectrical impedance analyser, lumbar spine and proximal femur T-score and lipid profile were performed.

Results

After 12 months, a significant reduction in MENQOL vasomotor, physical and sexual domain scores (p < 0.05) and a significant increase in all FSFI domain scores (p < 0.05) were observed in treatment group. Laboratory tests showed significant increase in serum levels of HDL (p < 0.05). No significant changes of lumbar spine and femur neck T-score (p > 0.05) were found in the same group.

Conclusions

According to our data analysis, isoflavones, calcium, vitamin D and inulin may exert favourable effects on menopausal symptoms and signs.