BACKGROUND: Acupuncture therapy provides a complementary and alternative approach to treating major depressive disorder (MDD), but its efficacy and safety have still not been comprehensively assessed. Recently published systematic reviews remain confusing and inconclusive. OBJECTIVE: This systematic review evaluated the efficacy and safety of acupuncture therapy alone or combined with antidepressants for adult patients with mild and moderate MDD. SEARCH STRATEGY: Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database, Wanfang Database, Chinese Science and Technology Journal Database, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched from their inceptions to March 2025. INCLUSION CRITERIA: Randomized controlled trials that compared acupuncture therapy with antidepressants, or acupuncture therapy plus antidepressants with acupuncture therapy or antidepressants for adult patients with mild and moderate MDD were included. DATA EXTRACTION AND ANALYSIS: Five reviewers independently extracted data from original literature using a standardized form, and the data were verified by two reviewers to ensure accuracy. Statistical meta-analyses, publication bias analyses, and subgroup analyses were performed by using Review Manager 5.3 software. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach was used to assess the certainty of the evidence. RESULTS: A total of 60 eligible studies including 4675 participants were included. Low-certainty evidence showed that compared with antidepressants, acupuncture therapy (standardized mean difference [SMD] = -0.57; 95% confidence interval [CI] = [-0.87, -0.27]; I² = 86%; P = 0.006) or acupuncture therapy plus antidepressants (SMD = -1.00; 95% CI = [-1.18, -0.81]; I² = 77%; P < 0.00001) may reduce the severity of depression at the end of treatment. Low-certainty evidence indicated that compared with acupuncture therapy alone, acupuncture therapy plus antidepressants slightly reduced the severity of depression at the end of treatment (SMD = -0.38; 95% CI = [-0.61, -0.14]; I² = 18%; P = 0.002). Similar results were also found for acupuncture's relief of insomnia. The reported adverse effects of acupuncture therapy were mild and transient. For most of the subgroup analyses, acupuncture type, scale type, and the course of treatment did not show a significant relative effect. CONCLUSION Acupuncture therapy may provide antidepressant effects and relieve insomnia with mild adverse effects for adult patients with mild and moderate MDD. But the certainty of evidence was very low. More high-quality, well designed, large-scale studies with long-term follow-up are needed in the future. Please cite this article as: Kuang HJ, Yang HS, Feng YX, Tang H, Fan Q, Xu YQ, Cui S, Musil R, Luxenburger H, Zhang YX, Zhao H, Zhang YQ. Efficacy and safety of acupuncture therapies for adult patients with mild and moderate major depressive disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(5):471-491.
Humans ; Acupuncture Therapy/methods* ; Depressive Disorder, Major/therapy* ; Adult ; Antidepressive Agents/therapeutic use* ; Treatment Outcome ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

BACKGROUND:Epidemiologic investigations and some experiments have shown that there is a close relationship between peripheral blood cells and osteoporosis,but the causal relationship between the two at the genetic level is still unclear. OBJECTIVE:To explore the causal relationship between peripheral blood cells and osteoporosis using Mendelian randomization methods. METHODS:Genome-wide association study data sets on peripheral blood cells,overall bone density at different ages,and calcaneal bone density were obtained from databases such as Blood Cell Consortium and MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit. Blood cells were used as exposure data,with bone density at different ages and calcaneal bone density serving as outcome data. Mendelian randomization analyses were performed using methods such as inverse variance weighting,MR-Egger,weighted median method,and simple median. The results were assessed for heterogeneity,pleiotropy,and sensitivity using Cochran's Q,MR-Egger regression,and Leave-one-out method. The causal relationship between exposure and outcomes was evaluated using β values. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Due to the heterogeneity revealed by Cochran's Q test in the Mendelian randomization results,the results of the study were based on the inverse variance weighting method. The inverse variance weighting results showed that when age-specific bone density was used as an outcome,there was a negative causal relationship between white blood cell count and whole-body bone mineral density at the age of 45-60 years[β=-0.07,95％ confidence interval (CI):-0.13,-0.01,P=0.02],a positive causal relationship between monocyte count and whole-body bone mineral density at the age of 45-60 years (β=0.05,95％ CI:0.00,0.10,P=0.037),a negative causal relationship between white blood cell and basophil counts and whole-body bone mineral density over 60 years old (β=-0.04,95％ CI:-0.07,-0.01,P=0.005;β=-0.04,95％ CI:-0.07,-0.00,P=0.038),a positive causal relationship between hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit and whole-body bone mineral density over 60 years old (β=0.04,95％ CI:0.01,0.08,P=0.012;β=0.04,95％ CI:0.00,0.07,P=0.039),and a negative causal relationship between white cell count and whole-body bone mineral density at an undistinguished age (β=-0.10,95％ CI:-0.16,-0.03,P=0.002). When heel bone mineral density was used as an outcome,there was a negative causal relationship between white cell count and heel bone mineral density (β=-0.04,95％ CI:-0.07,-0.01,P=0.016),and a positive causal relationship between hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit and heel bone mineral density (β=0.05,95％ CI:0.01,0.08,P=0.007;β=0.05,95％ CI:0.01,0.08,P=0.004). To ensure the robustness of the results,meta-analyses of Mendelian randomization results of peripheral blood cells and whole-body bone mineral density as well as heel bone mineral density in different age groups were conducted. The results suggested that for every standard deviation decrease in log-transformed white blood cell count,there was a 5％ reduction in the risk of decreased bone mineral density (OR=0.95,95％ CI:0.94,0.97,P<0.001);whereas for every standard deviation increase in hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit,there was a 4％ reduction in the risk of decreased bone density (OR=1.04,95％ CI:1.03,1.06,P<0.001). In conclusion,increased white blood cell count in peripheral blood is a risk factor for bone mineral density;whereas increased hematocrit and hemoglobin concentration are protective factors for bone mineral density.

Objective:To share our experience of single-port transoral Da Vinci robotic surgery for laryngeal and pharyngeal benign tumors.Methods:Three patients aged over 18 years and diagnosed respectively with epiglottic cyst, aryepiglottic fold cyst and thyroglossal duct cyst at tongue base were included who received operations in Hainan Hospital of Ruijin Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (Boao Research Hospital of Hainan) between August 1, 2023 and April 10, 2024. There were 1 male and 2 females, with an average age of 59 years old. The clinical diagnosis of these 3 patients was respectively epiglottic cyst, aryepiglottic fold cyst and thyroglossal duct cyst at tongue base. Intraoperative conversion rate, blood loss, operation time, hospital stay, pain score and swallowing function score were analyzed.Results:All three patients successfully underwent the operations with the single-port Da Vinci robotic system. The clean-contaminated resection rate of the tumors was 100%. The conversion rate was nil. The blood loss was 0-7 ml. The operation time was 5-30 minutes. There were no adverse events such as loosening of teeth and soft tissue abrasions of pharyngeal side wall. The rate of oral feeding within 24 hours after surgery was 100%. No postoperative coughing, bleeding, or dyspnea occurred. The average length of hospital stay was 3.7 days. The VAS score decreased 3 days after surgery compared to 1 day after surgery. The swallowing function recovered 1 month after surgery.Conclusion:The single-port transoral robotic surgery for laryngeal and pharyngeal benign lesions is safe and efficient, with fewer complications.

Objective:To investigate the impacts of nuclear receptor-interacting protein 1(NRIP1)on sepsis-evoked intesti-nal epithelial injury via transcriptional regulation of high mobility group box 1(HMGB1).Methods:The expression levels of NRIP1 and HMGB1 were detected by RT-qPCR and Western blot.The pathological changes of intestinal tissue were detected by HE staining.CCK-8 assay determined the optimal treatment time of LPS.Caco-2 cells were transfected with NRIP1 small interfering RNA(siRNA-NRIP1-1/2),and cell viability and apoptosis were detected by CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry,respectively.RT-qPCR and Western blot examined the expressions of inflammation-associated factors.Transepithelial resistance(TEER)was used to detect intestinal epi-thelial permeability.Western blot was used to detect the expressions of apoptosis and tight-junction related proteins.The binding rela-tionship between NRIP1 and HMGB1 was verified by luciferase reporting assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay(ChIP).After knocking down NRIP1 and overexpressing HMGB1 in LPS-treated Caco-2 cells,the functional experiment was performed again.Results:NRIP1 expression was fortified in the intestinal tissues of sepsis rats and LPS-treated Caco-2 cells.Interference with NRIP1 attenuated LPS-elicited Caco-2 cell viability injury,apoptosis,inflammatory response and barrier damage.Additionally,NRIP1 might activate HMGB1 expression at transcriptional level and HMGB1 elevation might reverse the impacts of NRIP1 absence on Caco-2 cell viability,apoptosis,inflammatory response as well as barrier function.Conclusion:NRIP1 may promote sepsis-elicited intestinal epi-thelial injury,which may be related to transcriptional activation of HMGB1.

Objective:To share our experience of single-port transoral Da Vinci robotic surgery for laryngeal and pharyngeal benign tumors.Methods:Three patients aged over 18 years and diagnosed respectively with epiglottic cyst, aryepiglottic fold cyst and thyroglossal duct cyst at tongue base were included who received operations in Hainan Hospital of Ruijin Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (Boao Research Hospital of Hainan) between August 1, 2023 and April 10, 2024. There were 1 male and 2 females, with an average age of 59 years old. The clinical diagnosis of these 3 patients was respectively epiglottic cyst, aryepiglottic fold cyst and thyroglossal duct cyst at tongue base. Intraoperative conversion rate, blood loss, operation time, hospital stay, pain score and swallowing function score were analyzed.Results:All three patients successfully underwent the operations with the single-port Da Vinci robotic system. The clean-contaminated resection rate of the tumors was 100%. The conversion rate was nil. The blood loss was 0-7 ml. The operation time was 5-30 minutes. There were no adverse events such as loosening of teeth and soft tissue abrasions of pharyngeal side wall. The rate of oral feeding within 24 hours after surgery was 100%. No postoperative coughing, bleeding, or dyspnea occurred. The average length of hospital stay was 3.7 days. The VAS score decreased 3 days after surgery compared to 1 day after surgery. The swallowing function recovered 1 month after surgery.Conclusion:The single-port transoral robotic surgery for laryngeal and pharyngeal benign lesions is safe and efficient, with fewer complications.

Objective To compare the differences in clinical prognosis and safety between thoracic endovascular aortic repair(TEVAR)combined with bare metal stent(BMS)implantation therapy and TEVAR alone in patients with type B aortic dissection(TBAD)after 6 months.Methods The clinical and imaging data of patients diagnosed with TBAD and treated with TEVAR or TEVAR combined with BMS implantation in Nanyang Central Hospital from March 2023 to March 2024 were retrospectively collected.The patients were divided into TEVAR group and TEVAR+BMS group according to different treatment methods.The aortic remodeling indicators and postoperative complications at discharge and 6 months after surgery were compared between the two groups.Results A total of 37 patients were included,including 20 patients in the TEVAR group and 17 patients in the TEVAR+BMS group.There were no statistically significant differences in baseline data between the two groups(all P＞0.05);at discharge and 6 months after surgery,the true lumen diameters and true lumen ratios of the abdominal aorta(proximal level of the celiac trunk and proximal level of the left renal artery)in the TEVAR+BMS group were better than those in the TEVAR group(all P＜0.05);the degree of thrombosis of the false lumen at 6 months after surgery was better in the TEVAR+BMS group than in the TEVAR group(P＜0.05);there was no statistically significant difference in postoperative complications between the two groups(P＞0.05).Conclusions TEVAR combined with BMS implantation therapy can significantly improve the aortic remodeling effect of patients with TBAD,without increasing the risk of postoperative complications and death caused by aortic-related factors.Bare stent implantation as an auxiliary treatment method for endovascular repair is a safe and effective optimized treatment plan.

Objective To compare the differences in clinical prognosis and safety between thoracic endovascular aortic repair(TEVAR)combined with bare metal stent(BMS)implantation therapy and TEVAR alone in patients with type B aortic dissection(TBAD)after 6 months.Methods The clinical and imaging data of patients diagnosed with TBAD and treated with TEVAR or TEVAR combined with BMS implantation in Nanyang Central Hospital from March 2023 to March 2024 were retrospectively collected.The patients were divided into TEVAR group and TEVAR+BMS group according to different treatment methods.The aortic remodeling indicators and postoperative complications at discharge and 6 months after surgery were compared between the two groups.Results A total of 37 patients were included,including 20 patients in the TEVAR group and 17 patients in the TEVAR+BMS group.There were no statistically significant differences in baseline data between the two groups(all P＞0.05);at discharge and 6 months after surgery,the true lumen diameters and true lumen ratios of the abdominal aorta(proximal level of the celiac trunk and proximal level of the left renal artery)in the TEVAR+BMS group were better than those in the TEVAR group(all P＜0.05);the degree of thrombosis of the false lumen at 6 months after surgery was better in the TEVAR+BMS group than in the TEVAR group(P＜0.05);there was no statistically significant difference in postoperative complications between the two groups(P＞0.05).Conclusions TEVAR combined with BMS implantation therapy can significantly improve the aortic remodeling effect of patients with TBAD,without increasing the risk of postoperative complications and death caused by aortic-related factors.Bare stent implantation as an auxiliary treatment method for endovascular repair is a safe and effective optimized treatment plan.

BACKGROUND:Epidemiologic investigations and some experiments have shown that there is a close relationship between peripheral blood cells and osteoporosis,but the causal relationship between the two at the genetic level is still unclear. OBJECTIVE:To explore the causal relationship between peripheral blood cells and osteoporosis using Mendelian randomization methods. METHODS:Genome-wide association study data sets on peripheral blood cells,overall bone density at different ages,and calcaneal bone density were obtained from databases such as Blood Cell Consortium and MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit. Blood cells were used as exposure data,with bone density at different ages and calcaneal bone density serving as outcome data. Mendelian randomization analyses were performed using methods such as inverse variance weighting,MR-Egger,weighted median method,and simple median. The results were assessed for heterogeneity,pleiotropy,and sensitivity using Cochran's Q,MR-Egger regression,and Leave-one-out method. The causal relationship between exposure and outcomes was evaluated using β values. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Due to the heterogeneity revealed by Cochran's Q test in the Mendelian randomization results,the results of the study were based on the inverse variance weighting method. The inverse variance weighting results showed that when age-specific bone density was used as an outcome,there was a negative causal relationship between white blood cell count and whole-body bone mineral density at the age of 45-60 years[β=-0.07,95％ confidence interval (CI):-0.13,-0.01,P=0.02],a positive causal relationship between monocyte count and whole-body bone mineral density at the age of 45-60 years (β=0.05,95％ CI:0.00,0.10,P=0.037),a negative causal relationship between white blood cell and basophil counts and whole-body bone mineral density over 60 years old (β=-0.04,95％ CI:-0.07,-0.01,P=0.005;β=-0.04,95％ CI:-0.07,-0.00,P=0.038),a positive causal relationship between hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit and whole-body bone mineral density over 60 years old (β=0.04,95％ CI:0.01,0.08,P=0.012;β=0.04,95％ CI:0.00,0.07,P=0.039),and a negative causal relationship between white cell count and whole-body bone mineral density at an undistinguished age (β=-0.10,95％ CI:-0.16,-0.03,P=0.002). When heel bone mineral density was used as an outcome,there was a negative causal relationship between white cell count and heel bone mineral density (β=-0.04,95％ CI:-0.07,-0.01,P=0.016),and a positive causal relationship between hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit and heel bone mineral density (β=0.05,95％ CI:0.01,0.08,P=0.007;β=0.05,95％ CI:0.01,0.08,P=0.004). To ensure the robustness of the results,meta-analyses of Mendelian randomization results of peripheral blood cells and whole-body bone mineral density as well as heel bone mineral density in different age groups were conducted. The results suggested that for every standard deviation decrease in log-transformed white blood cell count,there was a 5％ reduction in the risk of decreased bone mineral density (OR=0.95,95％ CI:0.94,0.97,P<0.001);whereas for every standard deviation increase in hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit,there was a 4％ reduction in the risk of decreased bone density (OR=1.04,95％ CI:1.03,1.06,P<0.001). In conclusion,increased white blood cell count in peripheral blood is a risk factor for bone mineral density;whereas increased hematocrit and hemoglobin concentration are protective factors for bone mineral density.

Objective:To investigate the impacts of nuclear receptor-interacting protein 1(NRIP1)on sepsis-evoked intesti-nal epithelial injury via transcriptional regulation of high mobility group box 1(HMGB1).Methods:The expression levels of NRIP1 and HMGB1 were detected by RT-qPCR and Western blot.The pathological changes of intestinal tissue were detected by HE staining.CCK-8 assay determined the optimal treatment time of LPS.Caco-2 cells were transfected with NRIP1 small interfering RNA(siRNA-NRIP1-1/2),and cell viability and apoptosis were detected by CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry,respectively.RT-qPCR and Western blot examined the expressions of inflammation-associated factors.Transepithelial resistance(TEER)was used to detect intestinal epi-thelial permeability.Western blot was used to detect the expressions of apoptosis and tight-junction related proteins.The binding rela-tionship between NRIP1 and HMGB1 was verified by luciferase reporting assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay(ChIP).After knocking down NRIP1 and overexpressing HMGB1 in LPS-treated Caco-2 cells,the functional experiment was performed again.Results:NRIP1 expression was fortified in the intestinal tissues of sepsis rats and LPS-treated Caco-2 cells.Interference with NRIP1 attenuated LPS-elicited Caco-2 cell viability injury,apoptosis,inflammatory response and barrier damage.Additionally,NRIP1 might activate HMGB1 expression at transcriptional level and HMGB1 elevation might reverse the impacts of NRIP1 absence on Caco-2 cell viability,apoptosis,inflammatory response as well as barrier function.Conclusion:NRIP1 may promote sepsis-elicited intestinal epi-thelial injury,which may be related to transcriptional activation of HMGB1.

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are a heterogeneous cell population of myeloid origin with immunosuppressive function. MDSCs can inhibit the normal immune response of the host to tumor by inhibiting the activity of T cells, natural killer cells, macrophage, B cells, and promoting the proliferation of Treg and other mechanisms. Therefore, MDSCs are potential targets for tumor immunotherapy. However, whether immunotherapy or other treatments, the effectiveness of monotherapy is limited, so immunotherapy combined with other treatments is a breakthrough combination. In recent years, immunotherapy combined with other treatments has shown initial results, with better results than monotherapy. It has become a research hotspot in tumor treatment and a new treatment method in the future. This article summarized the research progress on the effects of immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, Chinese herbal extract and Immunotherapy combination on MDSCs, in order to provide theoretical support for the clinical application of immunotherapy based combined tumor treatment measures.