OBJECTIVE:Disorders in iron metabolism increase the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus.Hepcidin play an important role in maintaining iron homeostasis in the body,but its level increases with increased inflammation.Changes in hepcidin and iron homeostasis and the extent of their association with inflammation in people with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus are unknown.Meta-analysis was used to evaluate the effect of inflammation on serum hepcidin and iron metabolism related parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.METHODS:CNKI,PubMed,Web of Science and EBSCOhost databases were searched by computer to collect observational studies related to inflammatory index and hepcidin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.The search time was from September 1,2000 to September 30,2024.Three researchers independently screened the literature,extracted data and evaluated the quality of the included literature.Meta-analysis was performed by Review Manager 5.3,Stata 17.0 and GraphPad Prism 8.0.2 software.RESULTS:A total of 15 articles(17 studies)involving 3 159 participants,including 1 357 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus,were included.Meta-analysis results showed that compared with the control group,patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus had higher levels of serum hepcidin[standardized mean difference(SMD)=0.35,95％confidence interval(CI)(0.05,0.65),P＜0.05],serum ferritin(SMD=0.49,95％CI(0.21,0.78),P＜0.01)and serum transferrin(SMD=0.19,95％CI(0.00,0.37),P＜0.05).Subgroup analysis results indicated that inflammation had a significant effect on serum hepcidin(SMD=0.76,95％CI(0.17,1.34),P＜0.05)and serum ferritin(SMD=0.77,95％CI(0.06,1.47),P＜0.05)in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.CONCLUSION:Hepcidin concentration is positively correlated with type 2 diabetes mellitus.Inflammation is one of the risk factors of type 2 diabetes mellitus.Early prevention of inflammation has certain significance in preventing iron metabolism disorder in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

ObjectiveTo optimize and validate the optimal sequential alcohol-water extraction process of modified Banxia Xiexintang（MBXT） based on pharmacodynamic evaluation， combined with the G1-entropy weight method and Box-Behnken response surface methodology， and to systematically and comprehensively analyze the material basis of this formula， providing a scientific basis for its quality control and industrial production. MethodsRats were randomly divided into the normal group， model group， metformin group， and MBXT water extraction， water extraction and ethanol precipitation， sequential ethanol-water extraction groups. Except for the normal group， a polycystic ovary syndrome with insulin resistance（PCOS-IR） model was established in all rats via a high-fat diet combined with letrozole induction. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA） biochemical assay kits and hematoxylin-eosin（HE） staining were used to compare sex hormone levels in serum and ovarian histopathology， thereby screening extraction process routes. Based on this， a comprehensive score was constructed using the G1-entropy weight method based on the transfer rates of index components（berberine hydrochloride and baicalin） and the dry extract rate. Box-Behnken response surface methodology was then utilized to optimize the extraction process parameters. Finally， the chemical constituents of the sample from the optimal process were qualitatively analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-electrostatic field orbitrap mass spectrometry（UPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS）. ResultsPharmacodynamic findings revealed that compared with the normal group， serum testosterone（T） and luteinizing hormone（LH） levels were significantly elevated in the model group， while estradiol（E₂） and follicle-stimulating hormone（FSH） levels were significantly decreased（P<0.01）， with polycystic changes observed in ovarian tissues. Compared with the model group， all treatment groups significantly reversed the changes in sex hormone levels， with the sequential ethanol-water extraction group showing the optimal effect in improving the aforementioned indicators and pathological morphology， followed by subsequent process optimization. The optimized process involved adding 12 times the amount of 70% ethanol for extracting twice， each lasting 120 min， and adding 12 times the amount of water for extracting thrice， each lasting 90 min. Validation test results showed that under optimal process conditions， the average transfer rates of berberine hydrochloride and baicalin were 76.05% and 93.38%， respectively. MS analysis identified a total of 377 compounds， including 112 flavonoids， 41 terpenoids， 28 organic acids， 22 coumarins， and 8 alkaloids， while elucidating the cleavage patterns of key components. ConclusionThe optimized sequential ethanol-water extraction process is stable and feasible， effectively preserving the material basis of MBXT for treating PCOS-IR. It further clarifies the main chemical composition of this formula， providing a scientific basis for the development and quality control of its preparations.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the therapeutic effects of modified Banxia Xiexintang（MBXT） on polycystic ovary syndrome with insulin resistance（PCOS-IR） rats and reveal its potential mechanisms based on the integrated analysis of transcriptomics and metabolomics. MethodsFemale SD rats were selected， and a PCOS-IR model was established by intragastric administration of letrozole combined with a high-fat diet for 21 days. The modeled rats were randomly divided into the model group， MBXT low-， medium-， and high-dose groups（6.62， 13.23， 26.46 g·kg^-1）， and metformin group（0.158 g·kg^-1）， with a normal group set up separately. After 14 days of administration， the estrous cycle was observed， ovarian morphology was examined by hematoxylin-eosin（HE） staining， and the levels of testosterone（T）， estradiol（E₂）， follicle-stimulating hormone（FSH）， and luteinizing hormone（LH） in serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA）. Serum metabolites and ovarian tissue gene expression were detected using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-electrostatic orbitrap mass spectrometry（UPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS） and RNA-Seq technology， respectively， followed by multi-omics integrated analysis. ResultsPharmacodynamic findings revealed that all MBXT dose groups could reversed abnormal estrous cycles in PCOS-IR rats， improve polycystic ovarian lesions， and normalize dysregulated serum hormone levels（T， LH， E₂， FS， P<0.05， P<0.01）. Metabolomic analysis revealed that compared with the model group， MBXT reversed 278 differential metabolites such as estrone and S-formylglutathione， mainly involving pathways such as steroid hormone biosynthesis， glutathione metabolism， and lipid peroxidation regulation. Transcriptomic analysis identified 434 differentially expressed genes， and enrichment analysis revealed that MBXT significantly regulated lipid peroxidation defense systems， including glutathione metabolism， peroxisome function， and fatty acid metabolism， thereby intervening in ferroptosis processes. It also engaged in inflammation-related pathways such as the chemokine signaling pathway. Integrated analysis revealed that both metabolomics and transcriptomics co-enriched metabolic pathways associated with ferroptosis and fatty acid metabolism. And key Hub genes［such as Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 2 gene（Rac2） and Fas ligand gene（Faslg）］ showed significant correlations with differential metabolites. ConclusionMBXT can effectively ameliorate reproductive dysfunction and metabolic disorders in PCOS-IR rats. Its mechanism may be related to remodeling the immune-metabolism network， particularly by regulating MHC-mediated immune responses， inhibiting local ovarian ferroptosis， and enhancing steroid hormone synthesis pathways.

ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of modified Banxia Xiexintang（MBXT） in improving ovarian dysfunction in polycystic ovary syndrome with insulin resistance（PCOS-IR） rats by inhibiting ferroptosis through the adenosine monophosphate（AMP）-activated protein kinase（AMPK）/fatty acid synthase（FASN）/glutathione peroxidase 4（GPX4） signaling pathway. MethodsSeventy-six female SD rats were randomly divided into a normal group（n=13） and a modeling group（n=63）. The modeling group established a PCOS-IR model by intragastric administration of letrozole combined with a high-fat diet for 21 days. After successful modeling， these rats were randomly divided into the model group， MBXT low-， medium-， and high-dose groups（6.62， 13.23， 26.46 g·kg^-1）， metformin group（0.158 g·kg^-1）， and high-dose of MBXT combined with ferroptosis inducer Erastin group（15 mg·kg^-1）， with 10 rats in each group. After 14 days of intervention， ovarian pathological morphology was observed by hematoxylin-eosin（HE） staining， the mitochondrial ultrastructure of granulosa cells was observed by transmission electron microscopy（TEM）， ovarian reactive oxygen species（ROS） levels were detected by dihydroethidium（DHE） probe， biochemical methods were used to detect Fe²⁺， malondialdehyde（MDA）， glutathione（GSH） and other indicators in ovarian tissues， serum sex hormone and insulin levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA）， and the protein expressions of AMPK， FASN， acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4（ACSL4）， GPX4， and solute carrier family 7 member 11（SLC7A11） in ovarian tissues were detected by Western blot. ResultsCompared with the normal group， the model group showed polycystic changes in the ovaries， with atrophy of mitochondria in granulosa cells and increased membrane density. Serum levels of testosterone（T）， luteinizing hormone（LH）， and insulin were significantly increased（P<0.01）. The levels of ROS， MDA， 4-hydroxynonenal（4-HNE）， and Fe²⁺ in ovarian tissues were significantly elevated（P<0.01）， while adenosine triphosphate（ATP）， GSH， and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate （NADPH） levels were significantly decreased（P<0.01）. The phosphorylation levels of AMPK and acetyl-CoA carboxylase （ACC）， as well as the protein expressions of SLC7A11， GPX4， and ferroptosis suppressor protein 1（FSP1） were significantly downregulated（P<0.01）， whereas the expressions of FASN， ACSL4， and nuclear receptor coactivator 4（NCOA4） were significantly upregulated（P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， MBXT intervention at various doses improved the above pathological changes and biochemical indicators in a dose-dependent manner， with the high-dose group showing the most significant effect（P<0.01）. Compared with the MBXT high-dose group， the high-dose of MBXT combined with ferroptosis inducer Erastin group restored ovarian ferroptosis characteristics in rats， with increased ROS and lipid peroxidation products， and altered expressions of key proteins（P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionMBXT can effectively improve ovarian function and metabolic disorders in PCOS-IR rats. Its mechanism may be related to activating the AMPK/ACC signaling pathway， downregulating FASN and ACSL4 to reduce lipid peroxidation substrates， and restoring glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase/phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase（G6PD/PHGDH） metabolic flux to enhance the GPX4/FSP1 antioxidant defense system， thereby inhibiting ferroptosis in ovarian granulosa cells.

OBJECTIVE:Disorders in iron metabolism increase the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus.Hepcidin play an important role in maintaining iron homeostasis in the body,but its level increases with increased inflammation.Changes in hepcidin and iron homeostasis and the extent of their association with inflammation in people with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus are unknown.Meta-analysis was used to evaluate the effect of inflammation on serum hepcidin and iron metabolism related parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.METHODS:CNKI,PubMed,Web of Science and EBSCOhost databases were searched by computer to collect observational studies related to inflammatory index and hepcidin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.The search time was from September 1,2000 to September 30,2024.Three researchers independently screened the literature,extracted data and evaluated the quality of the included literature.Meta-analysis was performed by Review Manager 5.3,Stata 17.0 and GraphPad Prism 8.0.2 software.RESULTS:A total of 15 articles(17 studies)involving 3 159 participants,including 1 357 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus,were included.Meta-analysis results showed that compared with the control group,patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus had higher levels of serum hepcidin[standardized mean difference(SMD)=0.35,95％confidence interval(CI)(0.05,0.65),P＜0.05],serum ferritin(SMD=0.49,95％CI(0.21,0.78),P＜0.01)and serum transferrin(SMD=0.19,95％CI(0.00,0.37),P＜0.05).Subgroup analysis results indicated that inflammation had a significant effect on serum hepcidin(SMD=0.76,95％CI(0.17,1.34),P＜0.05)and serum ferritin(SMD=0.77,95％CI(0.06,1.47),P＜0.05)in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.CONCLUSION:Hepcidin concentration is positively correlated with type 2 diabetes mellitus.Inflammation is one of the risk factors of type 2 diabetes mellitus.Early prevention of inflammation has certain significance in preventing iron metabolism disorder in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Objective To provide a comprehensive review of the modeling method of the empty bottle stimulation(EBS)anxiety model,including commonly used experimental animal strains and genders,animal grouping,modeling procedures,modeling duration,primary behavioral evaluation method,and the underlying pathological mechanisms.This aims to offer a reference for the application of the EBS anxiety model in anxiety disorder research.Methods Searches were conducted in databases such as CNKI and PubMed to collect all literature related to the EBS anxiety model,which were then systematically summarized and organized.Results(1)Male adult SD or Wistar rats are predominantly used as experimental animals;(2)The optimal modeling period is 2 weeks;(3)Behavioral evaluations primarily utilize the open field test,elevated plus maze test,and light-dark box test;(4)Pathological mechanisms involve abnormal neurotransmitter metabolism in brain regions such as the hippocampus,prefrontal cortex,and amygdala.Conclusions The EBS anxiety model exhibits an anxiety-like behavioral phenotype and associated neurobiological mechanisms,validating its utility as an animal model for the study of anxiety disorders.However,further exploration and refinement are required for its standardized construction protocol and the understanding of its mechanistic underpinnings.

Objective To investigate the effects of chronic restraint stress for 28 days(day and night)on mood and cognitive-like behavior in male and female ICR mice,to provide a basis for the selection of sex and restraint period in chronic restraint stress model animals.Methods A total of 72 male and female(1∶1)ICR mice were divided into six groups:male control,daytime restraint,and nighttime restraint groups,and female control,daytime restraint,and nighttime restraint groups.Mice in all but the control groups were bound for 10 h/d and restrained continuously for 28 days to establish a chronic restraint stress model.The emotional and cognitive behaviors induced by restraint in male and female mice at different times were observed by open field,Y maze,novel inhibition feeding,elevated cross maze,tail suspension,forced swimming,and dark-avoidance experiments.Results In the tail suspension experiment,the immobility time of male mice in the daytime restraint group was significantly increased compared with that in the control group(P＜0.05),and the immobility times of male mice in the daytime and nighttime restraint groups were also significantly increased in the forced swimming experiment,compared with those in the control group(P＜0.05).There was no significant difference between the female daytime restraint and female control groups in the novelty inhibition feeding experiment,but the feeding latency of the nighttime restraint group was significantly longer than that of the control group(P＜0.05)and the daytime restraint group(P＜0.05).The feeding latency of female mice was significantly longer than that of males during nighttime restraint(P＜0.05).In the open field test,compared with the male control group,the female control group showed a significant decrease in central area time and the ratio of central area time to peripheral area time(P＜0.05).Compared with the female control group,the female daytime restraint group exhibited a significant decrease in central area time and the ratio of central area time to peripheral area time(P＜0.05).There was no significant difference between the groups in the elevated cross maze and Y maze experiments.There was no significant difference in dark latency between the daytime restraint group and the control group,but darkness latency was significantly shorter in the nighttime restraint group compared with those in the control group(P＜0.05).When male and female mice were combined,the immobility time in the daytime restraint group was significantly increased in the tail suspension experiment(P＜0.05),the immobility times of mice in the daytime and nighttime restraint groups were significantly increased in the forced swimming experiment(P＜0.01,P＜0.05),and the central zone time and the ratio of central area time to peripheral area time of daytime restraint mice were significantly shorter compared with those in the control group(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).There was no significant difference in the central zone time and the ratio of central area time to peripheral area time in the nighttime restraint groups,and no significant difference in average speed or total distance between the daytime and nighttime restraint groups.Conclusions Male mice exhibited depression after 28 d of chronic restraint stress during the daytime,while female mice were prone to anxiety after 28 d of chronic restraint stress.Male mice experienced learning and memory impairment after 28 d of chronic restraint stress during the night.

Objective To provide a comprehensive review of the modeling method of the empty bottle stimulation(EBS)anxiety model,including commonly used experimental animal strains and genders,animal grouping,modeling procedures,modeling duration,primary behavioral evaluation method,and the underlying pathological mechanisms.This aims to offer a reference for the application of the EBS anxiety model in anxiety disorder research.Methods Searches were conducted in databases such as CNKI and PubMed to collect all literature related to the EBS anxiety model,which were then systematically summarized and organized.Results(1)Male adult SD or Wistar rats are predominantly used as experimental animals;(2)The optimal modeling period is 2 weeks;(3)Behavioral evaluations primarily utilize the open field test,elevated plus maze test,and light-dark box test;(4)Pathological mechanisms involve abnormal neurotransmitter metabolism in brain regions such as the hippocampus,prefrontal cortex,and amygdala.Conclusions The EBS anxiety model exhibits an anxiety-like behavioral phenotype and associated neurobiological mechanisms,validating its utility as an animal model for the study of anxiety disorders.However,further exploration and refinement are required for its standardized construction protocol and the understanding of its mechanistic underpinnings.

Objective To investigate the effects of chronic restraint stress for 28 days(day and night)on mood and cognitive-like behavior in male and female ICR mice,to provide a basis for the selection of sex and restraint period in chronic restraint stress model animals.Methods A total of 72 male and female(1∶1)ICR mice were divided into six groups:male control,daytime restraint,and nighttime restraint groups,and female control,daytime restraint,and nighttime restraint groups.Mice in all but the control groups were bound for 10 h/d and restrained continuously for 28 days to establish a chronic restraint stress model.The emotional and cognitive behaviors induced by restraint in male and female mice at different times were observed by open field,Y maze,novel inhibition feeding,elevated cross maze,tail suspension,forced swimming,and dark-avoidance experiments.Results In the tail suspension experiment,the immobility time of male mice in the daytime restraint group was significantly increased compared with that in the control group(P＜0.05),and the immobility times of male mice in the daytime and nighttime restraint groups were also significantly increased in the forced swimming experiment,compared with those in the control group(P＜0.05).There was no significant difference between the female daytime restraint and female control groups in the novelty inhibition feeding experiment,but the feeding latency of the nighttime restraint group was significantly longer than that of the control group(P＜0.05)and the daytime restraint group(P＜0.05).The feeding latency of female mice was significantly longer than that of males during nighttime restraint(P＜0.05).In the open field test,compared with the male control group,the female control group showed a significant decrease in central area time and the ratio of central area time to peripheral area time(P＜0.05).Compared with the female control group,the female daytime restraint group exhibited a significant decrease in central area time and the ratio of central area time to peripheral area time(P＜0.05).There was no significant difference between the groups in the elevated cross maze and Y maze experiments.There was no significant difference in dark latency between the daytime restraint group and the control group,but darkness latency was significantly shorter in the nighttime restraint group compared with those in the control group(P＜0.05).When male and female mice were combined,the immobility time in the daytime restraint group was significantly increased in the tail suspension experiment(P＜0.05),the immobility times of mice in the daytime and nighttime restraint groups were significantly increased in the forced swimming experiment(P＜0.01,P＜0.05),and the central zone time and the ratio of central area time to peripheral area time of daytime restraint mice were significantly shorter compared with those in the control group(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).There was no significant difference in the central zone time and the ratio of central area time to peripheral area time in the nighttime restraint groups,and no significant difference in average speed or total distance between the daytime and nighttime restraint groups.Conclusions Male mice exhibited depression after 28 d of chronic restraint stress during the daytime,while female mice were prone to anxiety after 28 d of chronic restraint stress.Male mice experienced learning and memory impairment after 28 d of chronic restraint stress during the night.

Objective This study aimed to investigate the effects of sleep interruption(SI)cycles on emotional behavior in ICR mice,and to establish a mouse model of comorbid anxiety and depression induced by SI.Methods Seventy-two male ICR mice(4～5 weeks old)were divided randomly into a blank group and a model group.Mice in the model group were subjected to SI stress modeling for 1,2,and 3 weeks,respectively.After modeling,emotional behaviors were evaluated using open-field,elevated plus maze,light-dark box,marble-burying,and forced-swimming tests.Serum corticosterone levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results Mice in the model group buried significantly more marbles after 1 week of SI stress,compared with the blank group(P＜0.05).After 2 weeks of stress,mice in the model group also showed a significant decrease in the number of crossings in the light-dark box(P＜0.05)and a significant increase in the number of marbles buried(P＜0.01)compared with the control group.After 3 weeks of stress,mice in the model group showed a significant increase in the number of marbles buried(P＜0.05),a significant decrease in the number of crossings in the light-dark box(P＜0.05),and a significant increase in immobility time in the forced-swim test(P＜0.01).Conclusions ICR mice exhibited significant anxiety-related behaviors after 2 weeks of SI modeling and significant anxiety-and depressive-related behavioral changes after 3 weeks.Three weeks of SI stress can be used to establish a model of comorbid anxiety and depression.