Objective To explore the effects and mechanisms of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell (HUC-MSC)-derived exosomes (Exo) pretreated with Huangkui capsules on renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). Methods HUC-MSCs were cultured in media containing different concentrations of Huangkui capsules for 24 hours to determine cell viability and select an appropriate concentration for subsequent experiments. HUC-MSCs were pretreated with 50 μg/mL Huangkui capsules for 24 hours, and Exo were extracted using an exosome extraction kit. The morphology was observed under a transmission electron microscope, particle size was measured by nanoparticle tracking analysis, and the expression of exosomal membrane surface marker proteins was detected by Western blot. Human renal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2 cells) were randomly divided into hypoxia/reoxygenation group (M group), hypoxia/reoxygenation + Exo group (E group), and hypoxia/reoxygenation + Huangkui capsules pretreated Exo group (H group). Western blotting was used to measure the expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS)-related proteins, and real-time fluorescent quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to measure the expression of ERS-related gene messenger RNA (mRNA). Mice were randomly divided into sham operation group (Sham group), ischemia-reperfusion group (I/R group), ischemia-reperfusion + Exo group (E group), and ischemia-reperfusion + Huangkui capsules pretreated Exo group (H group). Renal histological assessment, serum creatinine (Scr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) measurement and inflammatory factor detection were performed 24 hours later. Results Both Exo and Huangkui capsules prereated Exo had a bilayer membrane structure and a cup-shaped morphology; their average particle sizes were 116.8 nm and 81.3 nm, respectively. Both expressed CD9, CD63, TSG101. Compared with the M group, the E group had decreased relative expression of transcription factor 6 (ATF6) and protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK) proteins, increased mRNA relative expression, increased relative expression of C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) protein, and decreased mRNA relative expression. Compared with the E group, the H group had decreased relative expression of ATF6, PERK, CHOP proteins, and decreased mRNA relative expression of ATF6 and PERK (all P<0.05). Animal experimental results showed that compared with the Sham group, the I/R group had increased renal tubular injury scores, Scr, BUN, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-10, IL-18, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α levels. Compared with the I/R group, the E and H groups had decreased renal tubular injury scores and Scr, BUN, IL-1β, IL-10, IL-18, TNF-α levels. Compared with the E group, the H group had decreased renal tubular injury scores and Scr, BUN, IL-1β, IL-10, IL-18, TNF-α levels (all P<0.05). Conclusions Huangkui capsules pretreatment HUC-MSC-derived Exo may alleviate renal IRI by inhibiting ERS.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the association between acupuncture during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) and the live birth rate (LBR) using different propensity score methods. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, eligible women who underwent a COH were divided into acupuncture and non-acupuncture groups. The primary outcome was LBR, as determined by propensity score matching (PSM). LBR was defined as the delivery of one or more living infants that reached a gestational age over 28 weeks after embryo transfer. The propensity score model encompassed 16 confounding variables. To validate the results, sensitivity analyses were conducted using three additional propensity score methods: propensity score adjustment, inverse probability weighting (IPW), and IPW with a "doubly robust" estimator. RESULTS: The primary cohort encompassed 9751 patients (1830 [18.76%] in the acupuncture group and 7921 [81.23%] in the non-acupuncture group). Following 1:1 PSM, a higher LBR was found in the acupuncture cohort (41.4% [755/1824] vs 36.4% [664/1824], with an odds ratio of 1.23 [95% confidence interval, 1.08-1.41]). Three additional propensity score methods produced essentially similar results. The risk of serious adverse events did not significantly differ between the two groups. CONCLUSION This retrospective study revealed an association between acupuncture and an increased LBR among patients undergoing COH, and that acupuncture is a safe and valuable treatment option. Please cite this article as: Zheng XY, Jiang ZY, Li YT, Li CL, Zhu H, Yu Z, Yu SY, Yang LL, Tang SY, Lü XY, Liang FR, Yang J. Association between acupuncture and live birth rates after fresh embryo transfer: A cohort study based on different propensity score methods. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(5):528-536.
Humans ; Female ; Propensity Score ; Embryo Transfer ; Adult ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Pregnancy ; Live Birth ; Birth Rate ; Cohort Studies

The fungal bioluminescence pathway (FBP) catalyzes the oxidation of endogenous caffeic acid to produce green bioluminescence through an enzymatic cascade. Genetic engineering of FBP into plants creates autoluminescent specimens that circumvent the substrate limitations of conventional reporter systems. These transgenic plants serve dual functions as aesthetic displays and versatile biosensing platforms, enabling applications in real-time gene expression monitoring, continuous environmental surveillance, and non-invasive bioimaging, offering novel opportunities for horticultural production, environmental conservation, and bioengineering applications. This review synthesizes current advances in plant FBP engineering and explores how machine learning approaches can optimize autoluminescent phenotypes, thereby accelerating innovation in agricultural biotechnology, environmental sensing, and synthetic biology applications.
Fungi/genetics* ; Plants, Genetically Modified/metabolism* ; Genetic Engineering ; Biosensing Techniques ; Luminescent Measurements ; Caffeic Acids/metabolism* ; Luminescence

Obesity, as a chronic recurrent disease, has become a major public health challenge in China. To implement the requirements of the Healthy China Initiative (2019—2030), under domestic guidelines or consensus statements on overweight and obesity, and in alignment with the latest scientific advances globally, the Quality control protocol for adult overweight and obesity screening in health management (examination) institutions (2025 edition) was developed. This protocol was drafted by the Health Management Center of Shanghai Changzheng Hospital and formulated through multiple rounds of deliberation by experts in China’s health examination quality control field. The protocol establishes unified standards for screening facilities, personnel qualifications, and measurement or testing procedures. It defines specific screening items, outlines a standardized screening pathway, and sets requirements for the final medical review, ensuring the scientific validity, effectiveness, and safety of the screening process. The implementation of this protocol will enhance the consistency of weight management practices for adults across health examination institutions and strengthen the quality control of overweight and obesity screening programs.

AIM:To investigate the optimal time of blood collection and the best concentration of Ganlong capsule(GLC)-containing serum for steatohepatitis.METHODS:Sixty C57BL/6J mice were gavaged with GLC at a dose of 90 mg/kg body weight,twice a day for 7 days.Control mice were administered the same volume of 0.9%saline.After 0.5,1,2 and 4 h from the last gavage,blood was collected to prepare GLC-containing serum.The LC-MS/MS was used to detect the inosine content of blank and drug-containing serum at different blood collection times to determine the optimal time.Subsequently,NCTC1469 cells stimulated with palmitic acid(PA)were treated with different concentrations of the GLC-containing serum.Nile Red staining was used to detect lipid droplet formation,and RT-qPCR was employed to as-sess the expression of intracellular fatty acid synthesis(Fabp1,Scd1)and fatty acid β-oxidation gene(Pparα).RE-SULTS:(1)LC-MS/MS detection revealed that the inosine concentration peaked 2 h after the last administration.(2)Nile red staining demonstrated that the GLC-containing serum exerted a dose-dependent decreasing trend of lipid droplets in hepatocytes induced by PA.(3)GLC-containing serum significantly downregulated the mRNA expression levels of lipo-genesis-genes(Fabp1 and Scd1)with a dose-dependent decreasing trend in the PA-induced NCTC1469 cells.The mRNA expression of genes associated with fatty acid β-oxidation(Pparα)were upregulated with a dose-dependent increasing trend.CONCLUSION:The 10%GLC-containing serum collected 2 hours after the last administration in mice has the best therapeutic effect for steatohepatitis.

Objective To explore the application value of adjusting contrast medium dosage according to total body weight(TBW),lean body weight(LBW)and body surface area(BSA)in coronary computed tomography angiography(CCTA)of overweight patients.Methods A total of 150 patients with body mass index(BMI)≥24 kg/m2 undergoing CCTA examination were prospectively selected and randomly divided into TBW group,LBW group,and BSA group,with 50 patients in each group.All three groups used contrast medium iodixanol(320 mg I/mL)and the fixed injection time was 12 s.The dosage of contrast medium was 0.8 mL/kg(TBW);1.04 mL/kg(LBW)for male and 1.11 mL/kg(LBW)for female;BSA 30 mL/m2.The dosage and flow rate of contrast medium were compared among the three groups,the image quality was evaluated by subjective and objective ways,and the correlation between arterial enhancement and TBW,LBW and BSA were analyzed.Results According to a 5-point scale,the image quality of three groups met the clinical diagnostic requirements(both≥3 points).Compared with TBW group,the dosage of contrast medium in LBW group and BSA group decreased by 13.38％and 10.62％respectively,and the flow rate decreased by 13.41％and 10.61％respectively,and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).The coronary CT values,signal-to-noise ratio(SNR)and contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR)in LBW and BSA groups were lower than those in TBW group(P＜0.05),and the variation range of CT values in LBW group were the smallest.There were no statistical differences in subjective scores of image quality among the three groups(P＞0.05).The coronary CT values were slightly correlated with TBW(r=0.342,P=0.015),and were not correlated with LBW or BSA(r=-0.207,P=0.150;r=-0.204,P=0.156).Conclusion LBW is the best body index to calculate the dosage of contrast medium for coronary artery enhancement in overweight patients.

Objective To classify traumatic triangular fibrocartilage complex(TFCC)injury based on 3.0T MR.Methods A total of 46 patients with definite history of wrist trauma admitted were collected.All patients underwent MRI scanning within 3 days after trauma,and the MRI findings were classified as follows according to the Palmer classification criteria:the focal structures of triangular fibro-cartilage(articular disc)(TFC)injury,the horizontal of the articular disc tear,injuries of ulnar styloid attachment and ulnar fovea attach-ment in TFC,ulnolunate and ulnotriquetral ligaments injuries,injury of the radial sigmoid notch junction,meniscal homologous inju-ry.The presence of TFCC injury was eventually confirmed by surgery in all patients.Results Of 46 patients,38 patients could be classified by Palmer,and there were 10 cases with type ⅠA,23 cases with type ⅠB,3 cases with type ⅠC and 2 cases with type ⅠD.A total of 8 patients were not suitable for Palmer type,and there were 3 patients with horizontal tears in the articular disc and 5 patients with meniscus homologous injuries.Conclusion The 3.0T MR can not only show various subtypes of Palmer classification,but also refine and supplement the classification based on the original classification,such as the injuries of ulnar styloid attachment and ulnar fovea attachment at the ulnar end of the articular disc,horizontal tear of the articular disc,meniscus homologous injury,etc.

italic>Salmonella has emerged as a promising tumor-targeting strategy in recent years due to its good tumor targeting ability and certain safety. In order to further optimize its therapeutic effect, scientists have tried to modify Salmonella, including its attenuation and drug loading. This paper summarizes the mechanism and research progress of Salmonella-mediated targeted tumor therapy, and introduces the strategies and related progress of its modification and optimization. At the same time, the advantages, current challenges and future development directions of Salmonella-mediated tumor therapy are summarized.

Objective To explore the effects of monocular deprivation(MD)on the expression of astrocytes in the superior colliculus,hippocampus,and visual cortex in mice during the critical period of visual development.Methods Eighteen C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into the normal control group(CON group)and the MD group,with 9 mice in each group.Mice were bred under the 12 h/12 h dark/light conditions.Mice in the CON group received no treat-ment,while mice in the MD group underwent MD of the right eye on postnatal day 27,and the tissue was removed after 7 days.The mRNA and protein expression levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP)in the superior colliculus,hippo-campus and visual cortex of mice in the two groups were detected using the real-time reverse transcription quantitative pol-ymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)and Western blot,respectively.The number of astrocytes labeled by GFAP and central nervous system specific protein β(S100β)in the superior colliculus,hippocampus and visual cortex of mice in the two groups was detected using the immunofluorescence staining.Results RT-qPCR and Western blot results showed that compared with the CON group,the mRNA and protein expression levels of GFAP in the superior colliculus,hippocampus(CA1,CA3 and dentate gyrus)and visual cortex of mice in the MD group decreased,and the differences were statistically significant(all P＜0.05).The immunofluorescence staining results showed that compared with the CON group,the number of GFAP and S1OOβ co-labeled astrocytes in the superior colliculus,hippocampus(CA1,CA3 and dentate gyrus)and visual cortex of mice in the MD group decreased,and the differences were statistically significant(all P＜0.05).Conclusion MD of mice during the critical period of visual development can result in a decrease in the number of astrocytes in the supe-rior colliculus,hippocampus and visual cortex.

AIM:To study whether glycyrrhizic acid(GL)can resist the ototoxicity of cisplatin(CDDP)in mice and its molecular mechanism.METHODS:Male C57BL/6J mice were divided into 5 groups:control group,DMSO(5%)group,CDDP(4 mg/kg)group,CDDP+low-dose(50 mg/kg)GL group,and CDDP+high-dose(100 mg/kg)GL group(n=14).Auditory brainstem response(ABR)was used to detect hearing changes of mice.HE staining was used to observe the morphological change of cochlear stria vascular in mice.Evans blue(EB)staining was used to observe the per-meability change of the blood-labyrinth barrier(BLB).Immunohistochemical technique was used to detect the expression and distribution of adhesion protein VE-cadherin and tight junction protein ZO-1 on the cochlear stria.ELISA assay and immunofluorescence technology were employed to detect the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and interleu-kin-1β(1L-1β).RESULTS:In CDDP group,ABR waveforms of all frequencies were disturbed,the hearing threshold was significantly increased,and I wave latency was prolonged(P＜0.05).In CDDP+GL group,ABR waveforms of various frequencies were well differentiated,the hearing threshold was significantly decreased,and the latency of I-wave was shortened(P＜0.01).The disordered morphology and more vacuoles in the stria vascularis were observed by HE staining in CDDP group.The GL alleviated CDDP-induced damage in the stria vascularis.In EB staining,CDDP caused an increase in per-meability of BLB(P＜0.01),which was improved by GL treatment(P＜0.01).Immunohistochemical results showed that the expression of VE-cadherin and ZO-1 in CDDP group were decreased(P＜0.01),which was restored in CDDP+GL group(P＜0.01).The ELISA and immunofluorescence results showed that the expression of IL-1β and TNF-α was in-creased after CDDP treatment(P＜0.01),which was restored in CDDP+GL group(P＜0.01).CONCLUSION:The GL alleviates CDDP-induced hearing loss in mice by inhibiting CDDP-induced inflammation and reducing the permeability of BLB.