The therapeutic potential of Ziziphi Spinosae Semen and Polygalae Radix in insomnia management: Insights from gut microbiota and serum metabolomics techniques.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Ziziphi Spinosae Semen and Polygalae Radix (ZSS-PR) constitute a traditional Chinese herbal combination with notable applications in clinical and experimental settings due to their evident sedative and calming effects. Aligned with traditional Chinese medicine principles, Ziziphi Spinosae Semen supports cardiovascular health, nourishes the liver, and induces mental tranquillity. Simultaneously, Polygalae Radix elicits calming effects, fosters clear thinking, and reinstates proper coordination between the heart and kidneys.

Pumpkin Leaf Extract Crop Waste as a New Degradable and Environmentally Friendly Corrosion Inhibitor.

The pumpkin leaf was extracted by the decoction method, and it was used as an eco-friendly, nontoxic inhibitor of copper in 0.5 M HSO corrosion media. To evaluate the composition and protective capacity of the pumpkin leaf extract, Fourier infrared spectroscopy, electrochemical testing, XPS, AFM, and SEM were employed.

Interaction of air pollution and meteorological factors on IVF outcomes: A multicenter study in China.

Background: Previous studies revealed associations between air-pollutant exposure and in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes. However, modification effects of air pollution on IVF outcomes by meteorological conditions remain elusive.

Methods: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included 15,217 women from five northern Chinese cities during 2015-2020.

Poor ovarian response is associated with air pollutants: A multicentre study in China.

Background: Human evidence on the association between air pollution and ovarian response is scarce. Poor ovarian response (POR) with an incidence of 5-35% is a tricky problem in IVF treatment.

Methods: In this large-scale multicentre study, we included 2186 women with POR (< 4 oocytes retrieved) and 7033 women with a normal ovarian response (10-15 oocytes retrieved), who underwent their first in vitro fertilization treatment in five cities in northern China during 2015-2020.

Effects of Dangshen Yuanzhi Powder on learning ability and gut microflora in rats with memory disorder.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Yuanzhi Powder is a commonly used traditional Chinese medical formulae for its potency in enhancing memory and learning. In clinical practice, Yuanzhi Powder is a classic formula in TCM to treat amnesia of the type "deficiency of Qi, turbid phlegm harasses the head and eyes, and stagnation of phlegm converting into the fire". Our previous study showed that Yuanzhi Power, used together with Codonopsis Radix (Dangshen Yuanzhi Power, DYP), could improve learning and memory ability in animals with memory disorder (MD) and its efficacy is superior or equivalent to that of the Yuanzhi Power.

The Chemical Constituents of Diaphragma Juglandis Fructus and Their Inhibitory Effect on α-Glucosidase Activity.

In our current investigation, 37 constituents (-), including 11 megastigmanes (-), 17 flavonoids (-) and 9 phenylpropanoids (-), were isolated from a 70%-EtOH extract of Diaphragma juglandis Fructus. Among them, compounds -, and were new compounds and their structures were elucidated on the basis of physicochemical evidence and meticulous spectroscopic analysis (NMR, HRESIMS and CD). Compounds , , and showed moderate inhibitory effect on α-glycosidase inhibitory activities, with IC values being in the range of 29.

Prolonged Cryopreservation Negatively Affects Embryo Transfer Outcomes Following the Elective Freeze-All Strategy: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

Background: With the development of embryo freezing and warming technology, frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) has been widely utilized. However, studies investigating the association between cryopreservation duration and FET outcomes are limited and controversial, and previous studies did not conduct stratification analyses based on demographic or clinical characteristics.

Methods: This multicenter retrospective study included 17,826 women who underwent their first FET following the freeze-all strategy during the period from January 2014 to December 2018.

Association between exposure to ambient air pollutants and the outcomes of in vitro fertilization treatment: A multicenter retrospective study.

Background: Exposure to ambient air pollution has been reported to be inversely correlated with human reproductive health. However, the results of previous studies exploring the association between air pollution and in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes are conflicting, and further research is needed to clarify this association.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the associations between exposure to air pollutants and IVF outcomes.

The Cholinesterase Inhibitory Properties of Stephaniae Tetrandrae Radix.

Stephaniae tetrandrae radix (STR) is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine in alleviating edema by inducing diuresis. In the clinic, STR extracts or its components are widely used in the treatment of edema, dysuria, and rheumatism for the regulation of water metabolism. Furthermore, STR has been used in treating emotional problems for years by combining with other Chinese herbs.

Dehydrocorydaline Accounts the Majority of Anti-Inflammatory Property of Corydalis Rhizoma in Cultured Macrophage.

Corydalis Rhizoma (CR) is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine for its potency in activating blood circulation and analgesia. In clinic, CR extracts or components are commonly used in the treatment of myocardial ischemia, rheumatism, and dysmenorrhea with different types of inflammation. However, due to different mechanism of pain and inflammation, the anti-inflammatory property of CR has not been fully revealed.

Perinatal and maternal outcomes after frozen versus fresh embryo transfer cycles in women of advanced maternal age.

Objective: The delay of childbearing in women has become a worldwide issue in recent decades. The application of assisted reproductive technology in women of advanced maternal age (AMA) is increasing. Evidence on the safety and outcomes of frozen embryo transfer (FET) compared with fresh embryo transfer (ET) in AMA women is still lacking.

Dihydrochalcone-derived polyphenols from tea crab apple (Malus hupehensis) and their inhibitory effects on α-glucosidase in vitro.

Three dihydrochalcone-derived polyphenols, huperolides A-C (1-3), along with thirteen known compounds (4-16) were isolated from the leaves of Malus hupehensis, the well-known tea crab apple in China. Their chemical structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis including NMR (HSQC, HMBC, 1H-1H COSY and ROESY), HRMS and CD spectra. Huperolide A is a polyphenol with a new type of carbon skeleton, while huperolides B and C are a couple of atropisomers, which were isolated from natural sources for the first time.

Frozen versus fresh single blastocyst transfer in ovulatory women: a multicentre, randomised controlled trial.

Background: Elective single embryo transfer (eSET) has been increasingly advocated, but concerns about the lower pregnancy rate after reducing the number of embryos transferred have encouraged transfer of multiple embryos. Extended embryo culture combined with electively freezing all embryos and undertaking a deferred frozen embryo transfer might increase pregnancy rate after eSET. We aimed to establish whether elective frozen single blastocyst transfer improved singleton livebirth rate compared with fresh single blastocyst transfer.

Transfer of Fresh versus Frozen Embryos in Ovulatory Women.

Background: Elective frozen-embryo transfer has been shown to result in a higher live-birth rate than fresh-embryo transfer among anovulatory women with the polycystic ovary syndrome. It is uncertain whether frozen-embryo transfer increases live-birth rates among ovulatory women with infertility.

Methods: In this multicenter, randomized trial, we randomly assigned 2157 women who were undergoing their first in vitro fertilization cycle to undergo either fresh-embryo transfer or embryo cryopreservation followed by frozen-embryo transfer.

Ex vitro expansion of human placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells in stirred bioreactor.

The high demand of human placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hPDMSCs) for therapeutic applications requires reproducible production of large numbers of well-characterized cells under well-controlled conditions. However, no method for fast hPDMSCs proliferation has yet been reported. In the present study, the feasibility of using a stirred bioreactor system to expand hPDMSCs was examined.

[Differentiation of human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells into chondroblast and osteoblasts].

Samples of healthy and full-term human umbilical cord blood samples were obtained asceptically. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were isolated by lymphocyte separation medium, and were characterized morphologically by fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis. Differentiation of chondroblast and osteoblast was induced by 10 ng/ml TGF-beta, 100 ng/ml insulin and 10(-7) mol/L decaesadril, 6.