The association between gut microbiome and chronic metabolic disease including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), is well documented, however, the relationship between the gut microbiota and serum metabolites remains unknown. In this study, untargeted metabolomics together with a 16S rRNA gene sequencing tool was used to detect small molecule serum metabolites and the gut microbiome. We identified 15 differential metabolites between PCOS patients and the healthy control. Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) (18:2, 20:3, 18:1, P-16:0, 17:0, 15:0, 18:3, 20:4), phosphatidylcholine(PC), ganglioside GA2 (d18:1/16:0) and 1-linoleoylglycerophosphocholine were increased in the PCOS group, and the concentrations of phosphoniodidous acid, bilirubin, nicotinate beta-d-ribonucleotide and citric acid were decreased in the PCOS group, suggesting a lipid metabolism and energy metabolism disorder in the PCOS patients. The diversity of gut microbiota in PCOS group was lower than that in healthy controls. Escherichia/Shigella, Alistipes and an unnamed strain 0319_6G20 belonging to Proteobacteria were important distinguishing genera (LDA > 3.5) in PCOS. Prevotella_9 was positively correlated with phosphoniodidous acid, nicotinate beta-d-ribonucleotide and citric acid concentrations, and negatively correlated with the concentration of LPC (20:3) and 1-linoleoylglycerophosphocholine; Roseburia was negatively correlated with LPC concentration (20:4), while the characteristic genus 0319_6G20 of PCOS was positively correlated with LPC concentration (20:3) (COR > 0.45). SF-36 in the PCOS group was significantly lower than that in the healthy control (HC) group, which was associated with the presence of Escherichia-Shigella and Alistipes. Our finding demonstrated the correlation between the gut microbiota and serum metabolites in PCOS, and therefore characteristic gut microbiota and metabolites may play an important role in the insulin resistance and the mood changes of PCOS patients.
BackgroundWhether acupuncture is effective for relieving perimenopausal syndrome has been controversial recently. In this article, we report the protocol of a randomized controlled trial using acupuncture to treat perimenopausal syndrome, aiming to answer this controversy.DesignA multicenter randomized controlled trial with two parallel arms is underway in China. Two hundred and six women with perimenopausal syndrome will be randomly assigned to a treatment group using acupuncture plus auricular acupressure (AA group) and a control group using Climen® (Bayer Healthcare Company Limited, Guangzhou, China), a 28-day sequential hormone replacement therapy, in a 1:1 ratio. Participants in the AA group will receive three acupuncture sessions per week in the first 4 weeks and two sessions per week in the following 8 weeks, for a total of 28 sessions over 12 weeks. Auricular points will be plastered by Semen Vaccariae twice per week for a consecutive 12 weeks, with both ears used alternately. The Climen® control group is prescribed a tablet containing estradiol valerate 2 mg/day for the first 11 days, and a tablet containing estradiol valerate 2 mg/day plus cyroterone acetate 1 mg/day for the following 10 days. The total treatment period of the control group is three cycles. The post-treatment follow-up period will last 24 weeks. The primary outcome is the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) assessed at baseline and 4, 12, 16, 24 and 36 weeks after randomization. The secondary outcomes are Menopause-Specific Quality of Life, average hot flash score during 24 hours, serum estradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone level. The first two secondary outcomes are measured at the same point as the MRS. Other secondary outcomes are measured at baseline and 12, 24 weeks after randomization.DiscussionThe results of this trial, which will be available in 2015, will clarify whether acupuncture is effective to relieve perimenopausal syndrome.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT01933204 (registered 9 August 2013)
Background:Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) has been shown to be effective in the treatment of stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by published meta-analyses. However, disease outcomes were inconsistent and heterogeneity was observed attributed to placebo-controlled studies. We present a protocol for a systematic review aiming to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of CHM comparing to placebo in the treatment of stable COPD, to provide robust evidence for the use of CHM in COPD.Methods:We will comprehensively search the following 9 databases from inception to March 2019: Web of Science, PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), WANFANG Database, Chinese Scientific and Technological Periodical Database (VIP) and Chinese Biomedical Database (CBM), and the Cochrane Library database. All clinical randomized controlled trials comparing CHM to placebo for the treatment of stable COPD in English or Chinese will be included. The primary outcome will be quality of life, symptom score and exacerbation frequency, and the secondary outcomes include traditional Chinese medicine syndrome score and effective rate, lung function, 6-minute walk distance, and adverse events. Data extraction and quality assessment will be performed independently by 2 reviewers. Data synthesis and risk of bias will be assessed using the Review Manager software. This protocol will be conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Item for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) guidance.Results:This systematic review and meta-analysis will provide a high-quality comprehensive evaluation of the efficacy and safety based on current literature evidence of CHM intervention for stable COPD.Conclusion:The conclusion of this study will present the evidence of whether CHM is an effective and safe intervention for stable COPD patients.
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