Search Results (21,713)

Menopause is a natural biological transition marked by the cessation of regular menstrual cycles and is associated with significant endocrine, hormonal, and metabolic changes. Sleep disturbances are among the most common and distressing symptoms during this period, affecting approximately 40–60% of women in the menopausal transition and postmenopause. Vasomotor symptoms, including hot flushes and night sweats, often occur alongside fatigue, anxiety, and mood disturbances. These symptoms frequently coexist with sleep disorders such as insomnia, early morning awakenings, fragmented sleep, obstructive sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, and circadian rhythm disruptions. Evidence from animal models, translational research, and clinical studies highlights the complex interaction between hormonal fluctuations, neuroendocrine dysregulation, metabolic changes, and circadian rhythm disruption. These factors contribute to altered sleep regulation, appetite control, and weight gain during the menopausal transition. This review summarizes current evidence on the mechanisms of underlying sleep disturbances in menopause, their clinical manifestations, diagnostic approaches, and available therapeutic strategies. Improving the management of sleep disorders during this stage may substantially enhance overall health and quality of life in menopausal women. We discuss presentation of different sleep disorders in menopause, their current management and future direction of research for development of precision-based algorithm of treatment considering the endocrine and hormonal profile of the women. Full article

Introduction: Uterine fibroids are benign tumors arising from uterine smooth muscle and significantly affect women’s health worldwide. While conventional treatments often involve hormonal therapies or invasive surgeries, these approaches are limited by cost, side effects, and fertility concerns. This study aimed to evaluate the in vivo bioactivity of four medicinal plant extracts, Lepidium sativum, Prunus armeniaca, Solenostemma argel, and Stachys palustris, in ameliorating monosodium glutamate (MSG)-induced uterine changes in rats, providing preliminary preclinical evidence. Methods: The extracts were evaluated for their flavonoid and total phenolic contents, antioxidant capacity, and hormonal modulatory effects. Female Wistar rats were treated with monosodium glutamate to induce uterine changes, followed by interventions with herbal extracts. Outcomes were evaluated via biochemical, hormonal, and histological analyses. Results: Among the four extracts, Lepidium sativum and Stachys palustris showed superior antioxidant activity, restoring catalase, glutathione, and superoxide dismutase levels. These extracts also significantly reduced estrogen levels and estrogen receptor expression, correlating with improved histological outcomes, including reduced endometrial hyperplasia and myometrial thickness. Solenostemma argel and Prunus armeniaca exhibited moderate effects. Conclusions: This study underscores the potential of Lepidium sativum and Stachys palustris as natural therapeutic agents for fibroid management through antioxidant activity and hormonal modulation. Future research should focus on clinical validation to translate these findings into effective treatments. Full article

Background/Objectives: Acromegaly is a systemic connective tissue disease driven by chronic growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) excess; yet, the female reproductive tract—especially the extracellular matrix (ECM)-rich cervix—has been poorly studied. We aimed to compare uterine and cervical morphology in women with acromegaly versus healthy controls and a gynecologic disease comparator, testing the hypothesis of selective cervical hypertrophy. Methods: We performed a retrospective case–control study of reproductive-age women who underwent pelvic ultrasound: acromegaly (n = 33), healthy controls (n = 45), and adenomyosis without acromegaly (n = 44). Uterine body measurements were obtained by TAUS/TVUS; cervical biometry was performed transvaginally in all cases. Volumes were estimated using the ellipsoid formula, and a uterus-to-cervix (U:C) volume ratio was calculated. Group differences were analyzed with Mann–Whitney tests and Bonferroni correction. Results: A total of 122 women were included. Uterine body length, width, AP size, and volume did not differ between acromegaly and either comparison group (all p-values non-significant). In contrast, cervical length, width, AP thickness, and volume were significantly higher in acromegaly than in healthy controls, with a corresponding reduction in the U:C volume ratio, indicating disproportionate cervical enlargement. Compared with adenomyosis, women with acromegaly again showed larger cervical width, AP thickness, and volume, together with altered U:C indices, whereas cervical length did not differ, suggesting a pattern not explained by nonspecific pelvic pathology. Conclusions: Women with acromegaly demonstrate a distinct uterine phenotype characterized by selective cervical hypertrophy with preserved uterine corpus size—an ECM-centric “acromegalic uteropathy.” This noninvasive morphometric signature may have diagnostic and procedural relevance and warrants confirmation in prospective studies. Full article

Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) is characterized by the toxic aggregation of human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP or amylin) within pancreatic β-cells. IAPP is also a neuropancreatic hormone that plays a significant role in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) by co-depositing with amyloid-beta (Aβ) and Tau, supporting the Type 3 Diabetes (T3D) hypothesis. Soluble IAPP accelerates Aβ aggregation through cross-seeding and causes neurotoxicity by impairing the blood–brain barrier and activating neuroinflammation. Melatonin inhibits these processes by disrupting hydrophobic interactions in both hIAPP and Aβ, preventing the formation of toxic β-sheet structures. Furthermore, melatonin promotes amyloid clearance via the glymphatic and lymphatic systems, protects neurons from oxidative damage, and reduces Tau hyperphosphorylation. This suggests that melatonin serves as a promising multitarget therapeutic agent for both metabolic and neurodegenerative disorders by modulating structural protein transformations. Full article

Chronic crop diseases caused by uncultured, obligate, or host-dependent pathogens challenge traditional pathogen-centric paradigms that often interpret symptoms as direct outcomes of pathogen toxins, effectors, or tissue colonization. Here, we advance a host-centric immune framework that reframes disease as an emergent consequence of dysregulated host immune network activity, including prolonged activation, signaling miscoordination, and systemic physiological disruption. Using citrus huanglongbing (HLB) as a primary exemplar and canola clubroot as a parallel system, we synthesize evidence that persistent immune stimulation can drive self-damaging outputs, including sustained reactive oxygen species accumulation, chronic vascular and transport dysfunction, hormone imbalance, and growth–defense trade-offs. While many observations derive from transcriptomic, physiological, and genetic studies conducted under controlled experimental conditions, the available evidence collectively suggests that persistent immune activation may contribute substantially to disease-associated decline in these systems. We argue that pattern-triggered immunity (PTI) and effector-triggered immunity (ETI) operate as an integrated immune network whose feedback structure can become destabilized under chronic infection, generating immune states that are simultaneously harmful and often ineffective at pathogen clearance. We further discuss how panomic profiling, spatially resolved analyses, and network inference can diagnose host immune states at tissue and cell-type resolution, and how genome editing enables causal tests and rational immune tuning strategies that optimize defense amplitude, timing, and localization rather than indiscriminately amplifying resistance. By centering the host immune system as both a source of protection and pathology, this framework provides a conceptual and practical roadmap for understanding and engineering resilience in HLB, clubroot, and other chronic crop diseases in which pathogen biology remains experimentally opaque. Full article

Background/Objectives: Over the last two decades, there has been a substantial change in the understanding of post-traumatic hypopituitarism (PTHP), which is no longer regarded as a marginal phenomenon. Clinical manifestations of pituitary hormone deficiency are frequently nonspecific, with fatigue and cognitive dysfunction predominating. Given that head injuries currently constitute a global burden for healthcare systems, the aim of the present study was to determine whether self-reported post-mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) symptoms that may indicate hypopituitarism reflect true pituitary insufficiency or are attributable to other hormonal aberrations. The study aimed to assess the relationship between self-reported symptoms of PTHP and hormonal test results following mTBI. Setting: Patients were recruited from a tertiary trauma center Emergency Department (ED) in northern Poland from January 2023 to October 2025. Participants: The participants were adult (18 > y.o.) individuals with mTBI who met the inclusion criteria. Design: This was a prospective cohort study. During their post-head injury admission to the ED, patients had a blood sample taken. The procedure was repeated consecutively after 3, 6 and 12 months. After 6 and 12 months, patients were asked to complete a questionnaire. Methods: Pituitary and thyroid hormones were measured using the chemiluminescence immunoassay method and the heterogenous immunochemiluminescence method. The questionnaire used, Questionnaire for the Assessment of Symptoms of Anterior Pituitary Insufficiency in Patients After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) Hospitalized in the Emergency Department, was designed for the purposes of this study. Results: Self-reported symptoms suggestive of anterior pituitary dysfunction following mTBI were not confirmed by laboratory assessment of pituitary hormones. However, after 6 months, a statistically significant correlation was found between the number of reported symptoms and prolactin levels (ρ = 0.730; p = 0.0013), whereas after 12 months a downward trend in free triiodothyronine (fT3) levels was observed compared with the baseline. Conclusions: Persistent symptoms reported by patients following mTBI at 6 and 12 months, particularly fatigue and impaired concentration, showed statistical associations with prolactin levels at 6 months and lower fT3 levels at 12 months. These findings reflect correlations identified in the statistical analysis and do not support inferences regarding causality or the presence of true PTHP. Full article

Diapause is a vital overwintering strategy for many insects, yet its comprehensive molecular architecture remains elusive. In the polyphagous pest Helicoverpa armigera, facultative pupal diapause is key to its ecological success. To elucidate the complex diapause regulatory network, we conducted a transcriptomic analysis of diapause (DP) versus non-diapause (NP) pupal brains across early pupal development (days 2, 5, and 10). Integrated analyses, including differential expression, persistent gene identification, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), and multiscale embedded network analysis (MEGENA), were employed to define core regulatory modules and hubs. The number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) increased over time, with 1781 genes persistently regulated across all time points, enriched in mitochondrial metabolism, hormone signaling, and chromatin remodeling. WGCNA revealed a diapause-associated module (red) linked to RNA processing/transcription and a development-associated module (blue) enriched for translation and mitochondrial metabolism. Network analyses pinpointed three central hub genes: DDX5 and PLK4 (downregulated in diapause, upregulated upon 20E treatment) and TAF5L (upregulated in diapause, downregulated after 20E). This study provides a systems-level view of the transcriptional landscape governing pupal diapause in H. armigera and identifies novel candidate regulators for future functional studies. Full article

Background/Objectives: Thyroid cancer (TC) is among the most common endocrine malignancies, with incidence rates increasing worldwide. However, careful inferential analysis based on refined data is needed to provide a sharper clinical and epidemiological description of this serious condition in a biologically and technologically evolving society. This study presents an exploratory statistical analysis of data from 1470 patients who underwent thyroid surgery for differentiated TC. Methods: The analysis combines bivariate exploration of associations between variables with univariate and multivariate analyses stratified by histological subtype. We examined pathological characteristics (tumor location, nodal metastases, distant metastases, margin involvement, lymphovascular invasion, vascular invasion, and perineural invasion), clinical characteristics (clinical stage), biochemical markers (thyroglobulin, anti-thyroglobulin antibodies, and thyroid-stimulating hormone), and demographic variables (sex assigned at birth and age). In addition, exploratory multivariable models were used to investigate factors associated with lymph node metastasis and margin involvement in papillary microcarcinoma, the diffuse sclerosing variant, and the classical variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma. Results: Notably, moderate to high effect size correlations highlight the interdependence of invasive histopathological features in thyroid cancer and their collective link to adverse surgical outcomes and prognosis. Conclusions: This study provides an analysis of associations between the variables and subtype-specific descriptive estimates, serving as a foundation for future work in tailoring personalized medicine. Full article

In penaeids, the major yolk protein precursor vitellogenin is synthesized in both the hepatopancreas and the ovary. While ovarian vitellogenin expression is clearly regulated by hormones from the X-organ/sinus gland in the eyestalk, regulation in the hepatopancreas remains poorly understood. Here, we performed transcriptome profiling stratified by endogenous hepatopancreatic vitellogenin gene (Maj-Vg1) expression levels in immature kuruma prawn Marsupenaeus japonicus. Pathway enrichment analysis identified the insulin, mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), glucagon, and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathways as candidate modules associated with the control of hepatopancreatic Maj-Vg1 expression. Analysis of differentially expressed genes identified slit-like (Slit) and calreticulin (Calr) as genes potentially involved in the regulation of Maj-Vg1 expression. In ex vivo hepatopancreas explants, insulin-like peptide 1 from this species induced Maj-Vg1 and was accompanied by the upregulation of lipogenic markers (Max-like protein X (Mlx) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (Acc)), consistent with vitellogenin’s lipid-transport role. Expression patterns of Calr, tuberous sclerosis complex 1 and 2 (Tsc1 and Tsc2) suggest regulatory inputs beyond insulin signaling, indicating context-dependent regulation. Taken together, these data identify metabolic status as an important contributor to hepatopancreatic Maj-Vg1 expression and define further research targets, including mTOR, AMPK, glucagon, and the Slit/Roundabout axis, for understanding vitellogenesis in penaeids. Full article

Background: This study investigated the effects of melatonin (50 mg/kg/day) and a high-monounsaturated-fatty-acid (MUFA) diet (60% MUFAs; PUFA/SFA ratio = 5), alone or combined, on lipid metabolism-related gene expression in female Sprague–Dawley rats. Methods: Thirty-two eight-week-old rats were randomized into four groups: control (C), melatonin (M), experimental oil diet (E), and combined melatonin plus experimental oil diet (ME). Treatments lasted eight weeks, with melatonin given orally at 17:00–19:00 daily. Results: In the ME group, hepatic expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) and acyl-CoA oxidase (ACO) mRNA was markedly upregulated, while the E group showed significantly higher expression of hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) in white adipose tissue. Additionally, ME rats exhibited increased fibronectin type III domain-containing protein 5 (FNDC5) mRNA with reduced peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1α (PGC-1α), but serum irisin remained unchanged. Conclusions: Melatonin and a high-MUFA diet induced modest and non-uniform changes in lipid metabolism-related gene expression. However, these transcriptional responses were not accompanied by measurable physiological or metabolic outcomes, indicating that the observed effects represent early molecular adaptations rather than functional metabolic modulation. Full article

Clonal propagation of rust-resistant sugar pine (Pinus lambertiana Dougl.) is currently limited by extreme rooting recalcitrance and highly variable donor responses to nursery management. This study identified seed zone-specific nutritional sensitivities and evaluated rooting success; we hypothesized that northern seed sources would exhibit greater sensitivity to high nutrient loads and that stable microclimates would outperform high-intensity rooting systems. In Study 1, seedlings from five United States Department of Agriculture seed zones were grown for 27 weeks in five nutrient solutions (tap-water control, modified Hoagland, Foliage-Pro^®, Andrejow, and FloraNova^®) spanning 0.72–3.00 dS m⁻¹. The nutrient-rich Foliage-Pro^® and FloraNova^® solutions defined the upper end of the nutrient-intensity range and revealed strong seed zone contrasts: northern zones (526, 550) showed marked sensitivity, with survival declining from 70 to 100% in the control to 15–40% under the highest-EC formulations, whereas southern zones (992, 993) maintained high survival (≥75%) across all treatments and exhibited increased branching (up to 3.7 branches plant⁻¹) under higher-nutrient solutions. In Study 2, stem cuttings were rooted in three environments (non-mist, hydroponic, and aeroponic) and four hormone treatments (control, Clonex^®, Dip’n Grow^®, and IBA + Ethrel). Rooting occurred exclusively in the non-mist propagator; untreated controls achieved 65% success and outperformed all hormone treatments (0–10%). These results demonstrate that P. lambertiana propagation depends on seed zone-specific donor nutrition and stable, hormone-independent rooting environments. Full article

Background/Objectives: Adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) have a substantially higher risk of ischemic stroke than the general population. Circulating biomarkers such as N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and microalbuminuria have been associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes in CHD, but their role in predicting cerebrovascular events remains uncertain. Methods: Prospective cohort study including 372 adults with CHD [median age 34 years (IQR 23–42); 57.8% male] followed at a tertiary center between 2017 and 2022. Baseline assessments included demographic characteristics, CHD anatomical complexity, cardiovascular risk factors, NT-pro-BNP, hs-CRP, lipid profile, and 24-h urinary albumin excretion. The primary endpoint was incident ischemic stroke during a median follow-up of 6.3 years (IQR 3.9–8.3). Univariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to identify predictors of stroke. Results: During follow-up, 13 patients (3.5%) experienced ischemic stroke. Patients with stroke were significantly older [51 (46–64) vs. 30 (23–40) years; p < 0.001] and had a higher prevalence of dyslipidemia (61.5% vs. 15.0%; p < 0.001). NT-pro-BNP levels were markedly higher in patients with stroke [369 (218–604) vs. 64 (21–172) pg/mL; p < 0.001]. No significant differences were observed between groups in renal function parameters, hs-CRP, thyroid-stimulating hormone, or urinary albumin excretion rate. In Cox analyses, older age and dyslipidemia were the strongest predictors of stroke (p < 0.001). Arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and higher NT-pro-BNP levels were also associated with increased stroke risk (p < 0.05), whereas CHD anatomical complexity, NYHA functional class, and cyanosis were not. Conclusions: In adults with CHD, ischemic stroke was mainly associated with traditional cardiovascular risk factors and elevated NT-pro-BNP levels rather than anatomical disease complexity or functional status. Full article

Background: Hypothyroidism is one of the most common endocrine conditions during pregnancy and has been associated with poor obstetric and perinatal outcomes. There is still a lack of data from Middle Eastern populations, despite its clinical significance. This study aimed to evaluate thyroid management patterns during pregnancy and examine the association between thyroid function control and maternal and perinatal outcomes in women with hypothyroidism at a tertiary care center in Qatar. Methods: A retrospective cohort study including 379 pregnant women with hypothyroidism diagnosed between January 2019 and November 2022 was conducted at Sidra Medicine in Doha, Qatar. Based on trimester-specific Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH )reference values, participants were categorized as having adequately or inadequately controlled thyroid function. Data on obstetrics, biochemistry, and demographics were taken from electronic medical records (EMR). Statistical analyses were performed using chi-square tests for categorical variables and t-tests for continuous variables, with a significance threshold of p < 0.05. Results: Participants had a mean Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30.33 ± 6.14 kg/m² and an average age of 32.65 ± 4.99 years; 54% of them were Qataris. Of the patients, 58.5% had positive thyroid antibodies and 55.7% had pre-gestational hypothyroidism. Women with pre-gestational hypothyroidism required significantly higher levothyroxine doses compared with those with gestational hypothyroidism (93.2 ± 47.5 mcg/day vs. 67.6 ± 30.1 mcg/day; p < 0.001). Treatment adjustment was demonstrated by the improvement in TSH normalization from 51.3% in the first trimester to 64.2% in the third trimester (p = 0.041). No significant associations were observed with pre-eclampsia, preterm delivery, hypertension, or placental abruption. However, women with normal third-trimester TSH had a higher prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) compared with those with elevated TSH (51.6% vs. 36.8%; p = 0.013). Conclusions: Appropriate trimester-specific monitoring and timely levothyroxine titration was associated with improved biochemical control without adverse maternal outcomes. Greater levothyroxine requirements in women with pre-gestational hypothyroidism emphasize the importance of early intervention. These findings highlight the potential benefit of structured thyroid monitoring and multidisciplinary care approaches in pregnancy and may help inform future regional clinical practice guidelines. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of red LED (RL), blue LED (BL), and white LED (WL) on the growth, physiological responses, and hormonal regulation of Aquilaria crassna tissue-cultured plantlets. Morphological assessment revealed that both RL and BL treatments reduced growth variation, with RL significantly promoting shoot elongation and secondary root development. Compared to WL, RL also enhanced the rooting rate and aboveground biomass. Analysis of hormones and physiological indicators indicated that RL and BL treatments decreased abscisic acid (ABA), cytokinin (CTK), and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents, while increasing indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), gibberellic acid (GA), soluble sugar levels, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities, thereby altering hormone balance and antioxidant system stability. Correlation analysis revealed that light quality was significantly negatively correlated with ABA content, while root development was closely associated with hormonal balance and antioxidant capacity. A comprehensive evaluation using the entropy-weighted TOPSIS method ranked RL as the most favorable light condition for overall growth and development, with a closeness coefficient of 0.71. These findings provide a scientific basis for optimizing light quality management to improve the efficiency and quality of A. crassna tissue culture systems. Full article

The hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis coordinates metabolic, immune, and behavioral responses to a changing environment. Its molecular effectors are the nuclear receptors for glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids (the GRs/MRs), encoded by nr3c1/nr3c2. The MR serves as the high-affinity sensor of basal hormone concentrations, whereas the GR amplifies the stress response and mediates negative feedback. Despite their shared domain architecture, the receptors have diverged functionally: isoform composition, post-translational modifications, and the complement of co-regulators together determine which genes are activated or repressed in a given tissue at a given time. The regulation of the HPA axis activity is a major determinant of embryonic development. Pregnancy adds a placental control layer that meters maternal signals: 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11β-HSD2) in the syncytiotrophoblast inactivates cortisol, whereas 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) can regenerate it, and systemic buffering by transcortin (cortisol-binding globulin, CBG) limits the free hormone fraction. Under stress, inflammation, or hypoxia, this barrier weakens, exposing the fetus to stronger glucocorticoid pulses during windows of heightened vulnerability for brain and immune development. Such overexposure not only reshapes ongoing transcription but is also epigenetically inscribed: the methylation of alternative nr3c1 promoters, the remodeling of histones, and the shifts in ncRNA profiles recalibrate the axis sensitivity for the long term. At the phenotypic level, this manifests as variability in stress reactivity, cognitive and affective trajectories, and an immune and metabolic risk across later ontogeny. In this review, we integrate evidence on the structure and functions of the GR, the mechanisms of its post-translational and epigenetic regulation, and the role of the placenta, to provide a coherent framework for understanding the multifaceted consequences of prenatal stress and to identify potential targets for early prevention. Full article