The elevated risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) induced by red or processed meat rich diets is now established. Those haem‑iron rich diets induce luminal lipid peroxidation, one of the most recognised hypotheses explaining CRC promotion. Due to their known toxic properties, quantification of reactive aldehydes such as 4-hydroxy-2(E)-nonenal (HNE) and 4-hydroxy-2(E)-hexenal (HHE) as lipid peroxidation end-products in biological fluids is of upmost importance. Following previous works on faecal waters, an UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS method has been developed and validated for HNE and HHE quantification in rat serum, using deuterated internal standards (ISs). After protein precipitation (PP) and solid phase extraction (SPE), LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis was achieved by MRM. The use of a brominated derivatisation reagent allowed using the bromine isotopes for selective detection of both HNE and HHE based on diagnostic transitions. This new method was validated according to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) guidelines. Our method proved to efficiently determine HNE and HHE serum concentrations with the required sensitivity (nM range) in serum of rats fed diets rich or not in red meat and different fatty acid compositions.
Objectives: The Yangluan Formula (YLF) influences the outcomes of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) in infertile women with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR); however, the potential mechanisms by which YLF ameliorates DOR have not yet been elucidated. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of YLF on IVF-ET outcomes in infertile women with DOR, and to elucidate the potential mechanisms by which YLF addresses DOR.
Methods: Non-targeted metabolomics studies were conducted on follicular fluid specimens procured from individuals with DOR treated with or without YLF, and from patients with normal ovarian reserve who underwent IVF-ET treatment. Distinct metabolites were identified using untargeted metabolomics, and MetaboAnalyst was used to examine metabolic pathways. After applying network pharmacology (NP), the target of YLF acting on DOR was determined. Cytoscape software was used to develop compound-reaction-enzyme-gene networks, and molecular docking (MD) simulations were conducted to confirm the link between YLF and crucial targets.
Results: Patients with DOR showed a notable reduction in the number of oocytes retrieved, incidence of 2PN fertilization, and number of cleaved embryos (P < 0.001). Additionally, the DOR cohort exhibited a markedly reduced quantity of high-quality embryos on day 3 compared to the CON cohort (P < 0.005). In contrast to the DOR cohort, the YLF cohort exhibited notably superior outcomes in terms of 2PN fertilization rates, cleavage-stage embryo development, and the number of high-grade embryos on day 3 (P < 0.05). The proportion of 2PN fertilization observed in YLF subjects substantially exceeded that in DOR individuals (81.2 % vs. 64.3 %, P < 0.05). Combined analysis of metabolomics and NP, focusing on five key targets for the action of YLF (monoamine oxidase A, monoamine oxidase B, myeloperoxidase, xanthine dehydrogenase, and phosphodiesterase 3A), four key metabolites (pelargonic acid, 1-(5-Phospho-D-ribosyl)-5-amino-4-imidazolecarboxylate, isokobusone, 5-O-(1-Carboxyvinyl)-3-phosphoshikimate), and two related pathways (glycine, serine, alanine, and threonine metabolism).
Conclusion: We elucidated the mode of action of YLF in DOR treatment by integrating metabolomics and NP. YLF can effectively improve IVF outcomes in patients with DOR. This study provides new perspectives on the mechanism by which YLF improves ovarian function.

