Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide， and tumor metastasis is a key factor contributing to the mortality of most lung cancer patients. Aberrant activation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition （EMT） is a major driver of lung cancer progression and metastasis. EMT is characterized by the loss of apical-basal polarity and intercellular adhesion in highly differentiated， polarized， and organized epithelial cells， which acquire motility， migratory potential， and invasive properties. During this process， cells undergo cytoskeletal remodeling and transform into a mesenchymal phenotype， accompanied by associated changes in cellular markers. The EMT process is highly complex and is tightly regulated by intricate networks involving multiple transcription factors， post-translational controls， epigenetic modifications， and non-coding RNAs. Therefore， therapies targeting the mechanisms of malignant transformation and their associated pathways in lung cancer are of significant clinical importance. In recent years， EMT has attracted increasing attention as a potential target for cancer therapy. Chinese medicine， with its characteristics of multi-target action， low side effects， and good therapeutic efficacy， has demonstrated an important role in anticancer treatment. A series of studies have investigated the role of Chinese medicine in inhibiting EMT in lung cancer. Active ingredients of Chinese medicine， including flavonoids， glycosides， phenols， terpenoids， saccharides， and alkaloids， as well as Chinese medicine compound formulas， have shown significant regulatory effects on EMT. Their mechanisms mainly involve multiple pathways， targets， and links， including signaling pathways， exosomes， microRNAs （miRNAs）， and the tumor-associated immune microenvironment. This article summarizes the mechanisms by which EMT promotes malignant tumor progression and reviews the current research on how Chinese medicine active ingredients， monomers， and compound formulas inhibit EMT and suppress lung cancer cell migration and invasion. This study is expected to provide comprehensive theoretical information for basic and translational research on lung cancer.

BackgroundFamily functioning is one of the factors influencing non-suicidal self-injury （NSSI） behaviors in adolescents with depressive disorders. Previous studies have treated family functioning as a unitary construct， which may obscure the differential impacts of specific dimensions on NSSI behaviors. ObjectiveTo explore the relationships between various dimensions of family functioning and NSSI behaviors in adolescents with depressive disorders， aiming to provide precise targets for family-based interventions for adolescents with depressive disorders who exhibit NSSI behaviors. MethodsIn this cross-sectional study， 217 adolescent patients who were treated at the outpatient or inpatient department of The First Psychiatric Hospital of Harbin from January to July 2025 and met the diagnostic criteria for depressive disorders as stipulated in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders， fifth edition （DSM-5） were included as the research subjects. Assessments included a self-designed questionnaire， the Hamilton Depression Scale-17 item （HAMD-17）， and the Family Assessment Device （FAD）. Univariate Logistic regression analysis was employed to investigate the association between each dimension of family functioning and the NSSI behaviors， and multivariate Logistic regression was used to test the independent effect of each dimension of family functioning on the NSSI behaviors. ResultsA total of 204 cases （94.01%） of adolescent patients with depressive disorders completed the valid questionnaire survey. Among them， 134 cases （65.69%） exhibited NSSI behaviors （NSSI group）， and 70 cases （34.31%） did not exhibit NSSI behaviors （non-NSSI group）. Compared with the non-NSSI group， the NSSI group had a higher HAMD-17 score ［（20.97±7.50） vs. （17.79±6.95）， t=8.705， P=0.004］， a higher FAD total score ［（155.68±21.84） vs. （148.87±22.72）， t=4.348， P=0.038］， and a higher problem-solving dimension score ［（2.54±0.49） vs. （2.34±0.51）， t=7.399， P=0.007］. All the differences were statistically significant. The results of the Logistic regression analysis showed that the FAD total score （OR=1.014， 95% CI： 1.001–1.028， P=0.041） and the problem-solving dimension score （OR=2.241， 95% CI： 1.228–4.090， P=0.009） were both risk factors for NSSI behaviors. After adjusting for gender， age， residence， educational level， monthly family income， and whether being an only child， the correlation between the FAD total score and NSSI behaviors was not statistically significant （OR=1.010， 95% CI： 0.995–1.025， P=0.185）， while the correlation between the FAD problem-solving dimension score and NSSI behaviors remained statistically significant （OR=2.000， 95% CI： 1.028–3.889， P=0.041）. ConclusionImpaired problem-solving capacity within family functioning may constitute a risk factor for NSSI behaviors in adolescents with depressive disorders. ［Funded by Research Project of Heilongjiang Provincial Health Commission （number， 20240303090148， 20230303090154）］

ObjectiveThis paper aims to investigate and evaluate the staged efficacy and safety of the representative empirical prescription of the “Zhu Ke Jiao” theory， Qijia Rougan prescription， combined with entecavir in the treatment of hepatic fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B. MethodsA multicenter randomized controlled clinical study was conducted， and 101 patients diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B-related hepatic fibrosis （CHB-HF） who met the diagnosis and inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to an observation group （Qijia Rougan prescription + entecavir） and a control group （entecavir）. The treatment duration was 24 weeks. Liver stiffness measurement （LSM）， fibrosis-4 index （FIB-4）， portal vein diameter， hepatitis B serology， biochemical indicators， hepatic fibrosis markers in serum ［hyaluronic acid （HA）， laminin （LN）， procollagen Ⅲ peptide （PⅢP）， and type Ⅳ collagen （Ⅳ-C）］， and traditional Chinese medicine syndrome scores were used as efficacy evaluation indicators. Efficacy assessments and explorations of different staged subgroups of Qijia Rougan prescription were conducted according to LSM values based on the Metavir pathological staging standard. ResultsA total of 98 cases were included for statistical analysis， with 49 cases in the observation group and 49 in the control group. The general data of the patients in both groups were comparable. Compared with the same group before treatment， the observation group showed a significant reduction in LSM and FIB-4 （P<0.01）， as well as notable improvements in LN， Ⅳ-C， and various TCM syndrome scores （P<0.05， P<0.01）. When compared to the control group after treatment， the observation group demonstrated significant improvements in LSM， FIB-4， and various TCM syndrome score indicators （P<0.05， P<0.01）， indicating that the observation group performed better than the control group. Subgroup analysis of the regression of hepatic fibrosis stages showed that compared to the same group before treatment， the observation group had better improvement in regression of stages F2 and F3 （P<0.05）. When compared to the control group after treatment， the observation group exhibited superior improvement in regression of stage F3 （P<0.05）. No adverse events occurred in either group during the treatment period. ConclusionCompared with entecavir alone， the combination of Qijia Rougan prescription and entecavir significantly improves the degree of hepatic fibrosis and clinical TCM symptoms in patients. The optimal intervention period is primarily during stage F3， which is a potential “interception” point of the “Zhu Ke Jiao” theory.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy and possible mechanism of Wei's Huoxue Tongluo Formula （韦氏活血通络方，WHTF） in treating atrophic-stage non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy （NAION） with qi deficiency and blood stasis. MethodsA total of 82 atrophic-stage NAION patients with qi deficiency and blood stasis were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group， with 41 cases in each group. The treatment group was given oral administration of WHTF twice a day plus acupoint injection of distilled water 2 ml at Taiyang （EX-HN5） once daily， while the control group received injection of compound anisodine injection 2 ml at Taiyang （EX-HN5） once daily and oral administration of WHTF placebo twice a day. Both groups received treatment for a course of 14 days. The best-corrected visual acuity （BCVA）， optic disc perfusion density （PD）， flux index （FI）， macular superficial PD， vascular density （VD）， and traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome scores were compared between groups before treatment and on day 7 and day 14 of treatment. Additionally， mean defect （MD） and mean sensitivity （MS） of visual fields were measured before treatment and on day 14， along with safety evaluation. ResultsAfter treatment， both groups showed significant improvement in BCVA， visual field MD and MS， and TCM syndrome scores （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. On day 14 of treatment， the TCM syndrome score in the treatment group was significantly lower than that in the control group （P＜0.05）. There was no significant improvement in optic disc PD and FI， and macular superficial PD and VD after treatment in either group （P＞0.05） except that on day 7 the macular superficial foveal PD in the control group was significantly better than that in the treatment group （P＜0.05）. During the treatment period， no serious adverse events occurred in either group. ConclusionWHTF can improve the visual function indicators including visual acuity and visual field， as well as TCM syndrome scores in atrophic-stage NAION patients with qi deficiency and blood stasis. It shows clinical safety， although it does not appear to have a significant effect on optic disc or macular blood flow.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the correlation between balance function and core muscle activation in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), compared to healthy individuals. Methods: A total of 24 AIS patients and 25 healthy controls were recruited. The limits of stability (LOS) test were conducted to assess balance function, while surface electromyography was used to measure the activity of core muscles, including the internal oblique, external oblique, and multifidus. Diaphragm thickness was measured using ultrasound during different postural tasks. Center of pressure (COP) displacement and trunk inclination distance were also recorded during the LOS test. Results: AIS patients showed significantly greater activation of superficial core muscles, such as the internal and external oblique muscles, compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Diaphragm activation was lower in AIS patients during balance tasks (p < 0.01). Although no significant difference was observed in COP displacement between the groups, trunk inclination was significantly greater in the AIS group during certain tasks (p < 0.05). Conclusion These findings suggest distinct postural control patterns in AIS patients, highlighting the importance of targeted interventions to improve balance and core muscle function in this population.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the correlation between balance function and core muscle activation in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), compared to healthy individuals. Methods: A total of 24 AIS patients and 25 healthy controls were recruited. The limits of stability (LOS) test were conducted to assess balance function, while surface electromyography was used to measure the activity of core muscles, including the internal oblique, external oblique, and multifidus. Diaphragm thickness was measured using ultrasound during different postural tasks. Center of pressure (COP) displacement and trunk inclination distance were also recorded during the LOS test. Results: AIS patients showed significantly greater activation of superficial core muscles, such as the internal and external oblique muscles, compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Diaphragm activation was lower in AIS patients during balance tasks (p < 0.01). Although no significant difference was observed in COP displacement between the groups, trunk inclination was significantly greater in the AIS group during certain tasks (p < 0.05). Conclusion These findings suggest distinct postural control patterns in AIS patients, highlighting the importance of targeted interventions to improve balance and core muscle function in this population.

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

Natural products (NPs) have long held a significant position in various fields such as medicine, food, agriculture, and materials. The chemical space covered by NPs is extensive but often underexplored. Therefore, high-throughput and efficient methodologies for the annotation and discovery of NPs are desired to address the complexity and diversity of NP-based systems. Mass spectrometry (MS) has emerged as a powerful platform for the annotation and discovery of NPs. MS databases provide vital support for the structural characterization of NPs by integrating extensive mass spectral data and sample information. Additionally, the released annotation methodologies, based on a variety of informatics tools, continuously improve the ability to annotate the structure and properties of compounds. This review examines the current mainstream databases and annotation methodologies, focusing on their advantages and limitations. Prospects for future technological advancements are then discussed in terms of novel applications and research objectives. Through a systematic overview, this review aims to provide valuable insights and a reference for MS-based NPs annotation, thereby promoting the discovery of novel natural entities.
Biological Products/chemistry* ; Mass Spectrometry/methods* ; Databases, Factual ; Drug Discovery/methods* ; Humans