Perimenopausal period is a period with high incidence of female depression, which shows the symptoms of depressed mood and disturbed mind. The pathogenesis of the disease is not clear and it is urgent to search for efficient treatment. Leptin is a hormone secreted by fat cells and plays a role in both metabolism and neuroprotection. In recent years, leptin has been reported to ameliorate perimenopausal depression, and leptin is closely related to estrogen synthesis and secretion. Therefore, leptin may be used as a potential molecular target for the treatment of perimenopausal depression. In this paper, the research on the relationship between leptin and perimenopausal depression is reviewed.
Depression ; Leptin ; Estrogens

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis ( CVST) results from occlusion of cerebral venous sinuses, usually resulting in hemorrhagic infarction. It is a rare type of stroke affecting 3-5 per million people, often due to hypercoagulable states from clotting factor abnormalities or diseases like cancers, autoimmune and collagen vascular disease. Headache, visual changes, changes in sensorium, focal neurologic signs, seizures, and coma are some of the symptoms.

The role of exogenous estrogen in developing CVST among transgenders has not been reported frequently in literature. We report a 26-year-old transgender female who presented with throbbing headache after four years of exogenous high dose parenteral and oral estrogen. Magnetic resonance venography findings showed dural sinus thrombosis involving the left internal jugular vein, left sigmoid sinus, left transverse sinus, straight sinus, torcula and posterior aspect of the superior sagittal sinus. Patient was treated with topiramate, steroids and anticoagulants. Patient symptoms improved and was subsequently sent with home medications edoxaban. This case underscores the importance of monitoring the use of hormonal therapy in transgender individuals.

This report is an example of a rare cause of thrombosis secondary to self-administration of parenteral and oral estrogen. Prompt diagnosis in this patient resulted in the prevention of a catastrophic event like a major stroke, highlighting the importance of vigilance in managing hormone therapy. Increasing awareness about transgender issues can improve health and reduce inequities in this population. Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis ( CVST) results from occlusion of cerebral venous sinuses, usually resulting in hemorrhagic infarction. It is a rare type of stroke affecting 3-5 per million people, often due to hypercoagulable states from clotting factor abnormalities or diseases like cancers, autoimmune and collagen vascular disease. Headache, visual changes, changes in sensorium, focal neurologic signs, seizures, and coma are some of the symptoms.

The role of exogenous estrogen in developing CVST among transgenders has not been reported frequently in literature. We report a 26-year-old transgender female who presented with headache after 4 years of exogenous high dose parenteral and oral estrogen. Magnetic resonance venography findings showed dural sinus thrombosis involving the left internal jugular vein, left sigmoid sinus, left transverse sinus, straight sinus, torcula and posterior aspect of the superior sagittal sinus. Patient was treated with topiramate, steroids and anticoagulants. Patient symptoms improved and was subsequently sent home on edoxaban. This case underscores the importance of monitoring hormonal therapy in transgender individuals.

This report is an example of a rare cause of thrombosis secondary to self-administration of parenteral and oral estrogen. Prompt diagnosis in this patient resulted in the prevention of a catastrophic event like a major stroke, highlighting the importance of vigilance in managing hormone therapy. Increasing awareness about transgender issues can improve health and reduce inequities in this population.

Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Septate Uterus ; Uterus/surgery* ; Hysteroscopy/methods* ; Estrogens ; Tissue Adhesions/surgery* ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Multicenter Studies as Topic

OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanism of Haitongpi Prescription extract in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis based on transcriptome. METHODS: Total of 12 SPF grade rats were divided into control group(group C), model group(group M), and Haitongpi prescription group(group HP). The knee osteoarthritis rat model was established using the Panicker method for group M and group HP, and group HP was intervened by local topical application of Haitongpi Prescription extract for 4 weeks. Total RNA from mouse knee cartilage was extracted and three sets of differential genes were obtained through sequencing.Differential genes were prediction and analysis through GO function and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis. RESULTS: A total of 109 differentially expressed genes were identified in Group C versus Group M, while 118 differentially expressed genes were identified in Group M versus Group HP, resulting in a total of 28 genes. GO functional enrichment analysis showed that the mechanism of HP extract in treating knee osteoarthritis mainly involved immunoglobulin mediated immune response, immunoglobulin complexes, and antigen binding; KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed correlation with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signaling pathway, interleukin 17(IL-17) signaling pathway, and estrogen signaling pathway. CONCLUSION HP extract can exert therapeutic effects on knee osteoarthritis through mechanisms such as immunoglobulin mediated immune response, immunoglobulin complexes, and antigen binding, as well as signaling pathways such as TNF signaling pathway, IL-17 signaling pathway, and estrogen signaling pathway.
Mice ; Rats ; Animals ; Osteoarthritis, Knee/genetics* ; Transcriptome ; Interleukin-17 ; Ointments ; Estrogens ; Immunoglobulins

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the promoting effect of Zuogui Pills on ovarian and vaginal angiogenesis in early-aging rats and mobilization factors granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor(GM-CSF), stromal cell-derived factor-1(SDF-1), and their receptors of endothelial progenitor cells(EPCs) and explore the mechanism of Zuogui Pills in improving reproductive hypofunction in early-aging rats. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(UHPLC-MS/MS) was used to analyze the chemical components of the extract of Zuogui Pills. Forty 14-month-old female early-aging rats with estrous cycle disorder were randomly divided into a blank group, a conjugated estrogen group(conjugated estrogen suspension, 65 μg·kg~(-1)), and low-(11 g·kg~(-1)) and high-dose(33 g·kg~(-1)) Zuogui Pills groups, with 10 rats in each group. In addition, 10 4-month-old female rats were assigned to the youth control group. The rats in the blank group and the youth control group were treated with 20 g·kg~(-1) distilled water by gavage, while those in the groups with drug intervention were treated with corresponding drugs by gavage, once a day for 15 days. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to detect the levels of SDF-1 and GM-CSF in the mobilization of EPCs in serum. Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining was used to observe the changes in the number of ovarian follicles at all levels and corpus luteum, the number of vaginal epithelial layers, the number of vaginal folds, and the blood vessels of ovarian and vaginal tissues in the groups with drug intervention. Western blot was used to detect the expression of ER, GM-CSFR, CXCR4, and CXCR7 proteins in ovarian and vaginal tissues. As revealed by the results, the blank group showed decreased number of corpus luteum, gro-wing follicles at all levels, and blood vessels(P<0.05), decreased thickness of vaginal mucosa, the number of epithelial layers, the number of vaginal folds, and the number of vessels in the lamina propria(P<0.05), reduced content of SDF-1 and GM-CSF in the peripheral blood(P<0.05), and down-regulated levels of ER, CXCR4, CXCR7, and GM-CSFR proteins in ovarian and vaginal tissues(P<0.05). The groups with drug intervention showed increased number of growing follicles at all levels, corpus luteum, and blood vessels(P<0.05), decreased number of atresia follicles(P<0.05), increased thickness of vaginal mucosa, the number of epithelial layers, the number of vaginal mucosal folds, and the number of blood vessels in the lamina propria(P<0.05), increased content of SDF-1 and GM-CSF in the peripheral blood(P<0.05), and up-regulated levels of ER, CXCR4, CXCR7, and GM-CSFR proteins in ovarian and vaginal tissues(P<0.05). This experiment suggests that Zuogui Pills may promote ovarian and vaginal angiogenesis and improve the reproductive function of early-aging rats by up-regulating the levels of mobilization factors SDF-1, GM-CSF, and their receptors of EPCs.
Rats ; Female ; Animals ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Aging ; Genitalia

Endometriosis, a heterogeneous, inflammatory, and estrogen-dependent gynecological disease defined by the presence and growth of endometrial tissues outside the lining of the uterus, affects approximately 5-10% of reproductive-age women, causing chronic pelvic pain and reduced fertility. Although the etiology of endometriosis is still elusive, emerging evidence supports the idea that immune dysregulation can promote the survival and growth of retrograde endometrial debris. Peritoneal macrophages and natural killer (NK) cells exhibit deficient cytotoxicity in the endometriotic microenvironment, leading to inefficient eradication of refluxed endometrial fragments. In addition, the imbalance of T-cell subtypes results in aberrant cytokine production and chronic inflammation, which contribute to endometriosis development. Although it remains uncertain whether immune dysregulation represents an initial cause or merely a secondary enhancer of endometriosis, therapies targeting altered immune pathways exhibit satisfactory effects in preventing disease onset and progression. Here, we summarize the phenotypic and functional alterations of immune cells in the endometriotic microenvironment, focusing on their interactions with microbiota and endocrine and nervous systems, and how these interactions contribute to the etiology and symptomology of endometriosis.
Female ; Humans ; Endometriosis/metabolism* ; Killer Cells, Natural/metabolism* ; T-Lymphocytes/metabolism* ; Estrogens ; Endometrium/metabolism*

The aim of this study was to clone the chicken zp1 gene encoding zona pellucida 1 (Zp1) and investigate its tissues expression profile and its effect on osteoblast mineralization. The expression level of zp1 was quantified in various tissues of laying hens and in the tibia of the pre- and post-sexual maturity by RT-qPCR. Zp1 overexpressed vector was transfected into chicken calvarial osteoblasts which were induced differentiation for 8 days, and the extracellular mineral and the expression of mineralization-related genes were detected. The full-length chicken zp1 gene is 3 045 bp, encoding 958 amino acids residuals, and has two N-glycosylation sites. The highest expression level of the zp1 gene was found in the liver, followed by the tibia and yolk membrane, while no expression was detected in the heart and eggshell gland. Compared with the pre-sexual maturity hens, the concentration of estrogen (E2) in plasma, the content of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) and the expression level of the zp1 gene in the tibia with post-sexual maturity were higher. The extracellular matrix and the level of osteoblast mineralization-related genes showed a significantly upregulated expression in chicken calvarial osteoblasts with Zp1 overexpressed and addition of estrogen. The expression of the zp1 gene is tissue-specific and positively regulated osteoblast mineralization under the action of estrogen, laying the foundation for elucidating the functional properties of Zp1 in chicken bones during the egg production period.
Female ; Animals ; Zona Pellucida Glycoproteins ; Membrane Glycoproteins/metabolism* ; Chickens/genetics* ; Egg Proteins/metabolism* ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; Estrogens

Hyperplasia of mammary glands is a benign breast disease with disordered breast structure. Nowadays, the incidence rate of breast hyperplasia in women is increasing year by year, and the etiology is related to the imbalance of estrogen and progesterone in the body. The symptoms include breast pain, breast nodules, or nipple discharge, which can develop into breast cancer in the context of psychological pressure. Therefore, it is timely and effectively necessary for people to treat the symptoms. At present, traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) often treats breast hyperplasia by oral drug, external application, acupuncture, moxibustion, and massage, while western medicine often uses hormone therapy or surgery. TCM can regulate hormone levels to treat breast hyperplasia. Acupuncture, moxibustion, and other methods can stimulate acupoints to reduce breast lumps. However, since TCM is easy to produce hepatorenal toxicity after long-term use and simple external treatment is slow to take effect, rapid and effective treatment is difficult to be achieved. Although western medicine can inhibit the disease, it is easy to produce toxic and side effects if taken for a long time. In addition, surgery can only remove the focus and the recurrence rate is high. Some studies have found that the combination of oral and external use of TCM compounds has a significant effect, with mild toxic and side effects, few adverse reactions, and a low recurrence rate. Based on the relevant literature in recent years, this article reviewed the combination of oral and external treatment of TCM in the treatment of hyperplasia of mammary glands, discussed the effectiveness, clinical evaluation indexes, and mechanism, and pointed out the existing shortcomings to explore a comprehensive therapy worthy of clinical application.
Female ; Humans ; Mammary Glands, Human ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Hyperplasia ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Breast Neoplasms ; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ; Estrogens

Postmenopausal osteoporosis is a kind of degenerative disease, also described as "invisible killer." Estrogen is generally considered as the key hormone for women to maintain bone mineral content during their lives. Iron accumulation refers to a state of human serum ferritin that is higher than the normal value but less than 1000 μg/L. It has been found that iron accumulation and osteoporosis could occur simultaneously with the decrease in estrogen level after menopause. In recent years, many studies indicated that iron accumulation plays a vital role in postmenopausal osteoporosis, and a significant correlation has been found between iron accumulation and fragility fractures. In this review, we summarize and analyze the relevant literature including randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses between January 1996 and July 2022. We investigate the mechanism of the effect of iron accumulation on bone metabolism and discuss the relationship of iron accumulation, osteoporosis, and postmenopausal fragility fractures, as well as the main clinical treatment strategies. We conclude that it is necessary to pay attention to the phenomenon of iron accumulation in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and explore the in-depth mechanism of abnormal bone metabolism caused by iron accumulation, in order to facilitate the discovery of effective therapeutic targets for postmenopausal osteoporosis.
Humans ; Female ; Osteoporotic Fractures ; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal/drug therapy* ; Postmenopause ; Osteoporosis ; Bone Density ; Estrogens ; Iron/therapeutic use*

Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecological malignancy, affecting up to 3% of women at some point during their lifetime (Morice et al., 2016; Li and Wang, 2021). Based on the pathogenesis and biological behavioral characteristics, endometrial cancer can be divided into estrogen-dependent (I) and non-estrogen-dependent (II) types (Ulrich, 2011). Type I accounts for approximately 80% of cases, of which the majority are endometrioid carcinomas, and the remaining are mucinous adenocarcinomas (Setiawan et al., 2013). It is generally recognized that long-term stimulation by high estrogen levels with the lack of progesterone antagonism is the most important risk factor; meanwhile, there is no definite conclusion on the specific pathogenesis. The incidence of endometrial cancer has been on the rise during the past two decades (Constantine et al., 2019; Gao et al., 2022; Luo et al., 2022). Moreover, the development of assisted reproductive technology and antiprogestin therapy following breast cancer surgery has elevated the risk of developing type I endometrial cancer to a certain extent (Vassard et al., 2019). Therefore, investigating the influence of estrogen in type I endometrial cancer may provide novel concepts for risk assessment and adjuvant therapy, and at the same time, provide a basis for research on new drugs to treat endometrial cancer.
Female ; Humans ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; Endometrial Neoplasms ; Estrogens ; Breast Neoplasms ; DNA Helicases