Zhejiang Shuren University

Estrogen fluctuations during menopause are linked to increased psychiatric symptoms like depression and anxiety. Depression rates in menopausal women are 2-3 times higher than in premenopausal women, primarily due to rapid estrogen changes. Estrogen affects emotional stability by regulating neurotransmitters, adjusting HPA axis sensitivity, and influencing neuroinflammatory and epigenetic pathways. Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) is a key treatment, stabilizing neurotransmitter systems and HPA axis activity, but requires personalized and evidence-based approaches.

This paper aims to systematically summarize the association between estrogen fluctuations and menopausal psychiatric symptoms, elucidate the underlying physiological and molecular mechanisms driving these symptoms, and evaluate the therapeutic potential of MHT, so as to provide a robust theoretical basis for clinical decision-making in menopausal mental health management.

We performed a thorough review of peer-reviewed studies from medical and psychiatric databases, examining the connections between menopausal estrogen changes, neurotransmitter regulation, HPA axis function, neuroinflammation, epigenetic changes, and the effectiveness and safety of MHT for managing psychiatric symptoms. We prioritized high-quality clinical trials, epidemiological studies, and mechanistic research to ensure reliable evidence.

The review highlights that sudden estrogen changes during menopause disrupt serotonin and norepinephrine signaling, alter HPA axis activity, and trigger neuroinflammation and epigenetic changes, increasing the risk of depression and anxiety. Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) can alleviate these symptoms by restoring neurotransmitter balance and normalizing HPA axis function. However, its effectiveness depends on factors like treatment timing, hormone type, and individual patient characteristics, including medical history and symptom severity.

Estrogen fluctuation is a significant modifiable risk factor for psychiatric symptoms during menopause, affecting neurotransmitter, endocrine, inflammatory, and epigenetic pathways. Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) is effective for symptom management when personalized and administered within recommended timeframes. This underscores the importance of assessing estrogen levels and psychiatric symptoms in menopausal women to optimize MHT and enhance mental health outcomes.

The Neuropeptide Y receptor Y8b plays a crucial role in regulating physiological processes in teleosts, yet its structural evolution remains underexplored. This study performed a comprehensive bioinformatic analysis of the Y8b receptor across 15 representative teleost species. Multiple sequence alignment revealed high conservation in core regions, underscoring the functional criticality of Y8b, while significant divergence in the N- and C-termini suggested species-specific adaptations. Secondary structure prediction highlighted variations in α-helix and β-sheet composition, potentially influencing conformational dynamics. Furthermore, 3D modeling and RMSD analysis demonstrated strict maintenance of the tertiary fold (RMSD <2.0 Å) even among distantly related orders. Phylogenetic analysis largely mirrored taxonomic classification but identified unique divergence in Oreochromis niloticus, implying distinct evolutionary trajectories. Collectively, these findings elucidate a conserved core, variable termini architecture for Y8b, providing a structural framework for understanding its functional diversification and ligand-binding mechanisms in aquatic vertebrates.

The instability of traditional glycoside hydrolases in the harsh conditions of pretreatment hinders the industrial scale enzymatic synthesis of the xylo-oligosaccharides using lignocellulosic biomass from agricultural wastes. However, extremophilic xylanases found in thermophiles, halophiles, and acidophiles/alkaliphiles, are intrinsically stable at high temperatures, extreme pH, and high salinity. Their resilience is based on discrete molecular adaptation such as ion-pair networks, hydrophobic cores, and surface electrostatics. In this review, extremophilic xylanase engineering using protein engineering and synthetic biology strategies for xylo-oligosaccharide production is systematically summarized. Meanwhile, techno-economic and life cycle assessments confirm improved sustainability and economic efficiency of XOS production in the context of a biorefinery. In the future, further effort will still be required for extremophilic xylanases to enhance the commercial implementation of the process towards sustainable bioprocessing.