ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of Yangxin Tongmai Formula （养心通脉方， YTF） in trea-ting coronary heart disease with blood stasis syndrome based on DNA methylation. MethodsSeventy-two SD rats were randomly divided into a control group （n=12） and a modeling group （n=60）. The modeling group was subjected to a high-fat diet， intragastric administration of vitamin D3， and subcutaneous injection of isoprenaline to establish the rat model of coronary heart disease with blood stasis syndrome. Forty-one successfully modeled rats were then randomly allocated into model group， YTF low-， medium-， and high-dose groups， and the atorvastatin calcium group， with 8 rats in each group and 1 rat reserved. The YTF low-， medium-， and high-dose groups received YTF at 6， 12， and 18 g/（kg·d） by gavage， respectively. The atorvastatin calcium group received atorvastatin calcium tablets at 1.8 mg/（kg·d） by gavage. The control group and the model group received 0.9% sodium chloride injection at 4 ml/（kg·d） by gavage. All administrations were performed once daily for 3 weeks. Twenty-four hours after the last administration， serum lipid levels including total cholesterol （TC）， triglycerides （TG）， low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C）， and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL-C）， myocardial enzymes including cardiac troponin T （cTnT）， creatine kinase MB （CK-MB）， and lactate dehydrogenase （LDH）， and inflammatory factors including interleukin-1β （IL-1β） and interleukin-10 （IL-10） were detected by ELISA. Pathological changes in myocardial tissue were observed via HE staining. Whole blood DNA methylation sequencing was used to analyze differential methylation gene expression among the control group， model group， and YTF high-dose group. Western Blotting was used to verify the protein levels of the key genes and downstream signaling pathways. ResultsCompared to the control group， the model group showed increased levels of TC， TG， LDL-C， cTnT， CK-MB， LDH， and IL-1β， along with decreased levels of HDL-C and IL-10 （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Compared to the model group， all treatment groups exhibited decreased levels of TC， LDL-C， CK-MB， and LDH， along with increased IL-10 levels. Among these， the high-dose YTF group demonstrated superior efficacy in reducing cTnT levels compared to the other TCM groups （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. HE staining indicated that the YTF high-dose group ameliorated myocardial cell swelling， disordered arrangement， pyknosis， and disappearance of nuclei， thereby reducing myocardial cell damage. Whole blood DNA methylation sequencing identified 240 differentially methylated genes shared by the control group， model group， and YTF high-dose group， including 109 hypermethylated and 131 hypomethylated genes； eif2ak3 was identified as a key differentially methylated gene. Compared to the control group， the model group exhibited increased protein levels of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 alpha kinase 3 （eIf2ak3）， phosphorylated protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase （p-PERK）， activating transcription factor 4 （ATF4）， C/EBP homologous protein （CHOP）， and Bax， along with a decreased level of B-cell lymphoma-2 （Bcl-2） protein （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Compared to the model group， the YTF high-dose group showed decreased protein levels of eIf2ak3， p-PERK， ATF4， CHOP， and Bax， and an increased level of Bcl-2 protein （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. ConclusionYTF may regulate key differentially methylated genes such as eIf2ak3 and the PERK/ATF4/CHOP signaling pathway， thereby inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress， reducing myocardial cell apoptosis， and exerting therapeutic effects in coronary heart disease blood stasis syndrome.

ObjectiveZheng’s San Qi San (ZSQS) power, a classic traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, is used for treating soft tissue injuries involving muscles, tendons, and ligaments. However, its underlying therapeutic mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to screen and identify pharmaceutically active ingredients and their candidate biomolecule targets, and further elucidate the molecular mechanism of ZSQS in the treatment of skeletal muscle injury. MethodsNetwork pharmacology was employed to construct “ZSQS-component-target”, “protein-protein interaction (PPI)” and “active ingredient-core protein-pathway” networks to predict the key active ingredients and potential core targets of ZSQS for skeletal muscle injury. The predicted results were then validated via microarray data from the GEO database. Molecular docking was then performed to assess the binding ability between the screened active ingredients of ZSQS and the candidate core targets. Moreover, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was used for qualitative and quantitative analysis to verify the active components of the drug and ZSQS serum. Finally, an animal model of eccentric exercise-induced skeletal muscle injury and a myotube cell model of oxidative stress-induced injury were established to validate the effects of ZSQS and its interventional effects on the biological functions of critical targets, thereby demonstrating the potential therapeutic mechanism of ZSQS. ResultsAmong the 111 active components identified in ZSQS and their corresponding 204 targets related to the skeletal muscle injury repair process, 14 core targets (including AKT1) and 4 core active components (quercetin, luteolin, kaempferol, and β‑sitosterol) were screened out, while the corresponding metabolites of quercetin, luteolin and kaempferol were detected in the ZSQS serum. Among these targets, 5 candidate genes (IL-6, CASP3, HIF1A, STAT3, and JUN) overlapped with the differential expression screening results with GEO data, and IL-6 was confirmed to be enriched in the PI3K/AKT pathway. Combined with the prediction results of the AKT expression levels, these findings suggest that the phosphorylation level of AKT1 plays a core role in the therapeutic mechanism of ZSQS. Molecular docking analysis further revealed that the PH domain of AKT1 had high binding energy with all 4 core active components, as verified by LC-MS. Finally, animal model studies have shown the promoting effect of ZSQS administration on skeletal muscle injury repair and its possible antioxidant damage mechanism. Cell model studies further demonstrated that ZSQS-containing serum, core active ingredient combination therapy, and quercetin monomer could increase the phosphorylation level of AKT, promote the nuclear translocation of Nrf2, upregulate the expression of downstream antioxidant enzymes (SOD, GPx, and GR), and inhibit the expression of inflammatory factors (IL-6 and TNF-α), thereby alleviating oxidative stress and the inflammatory response. ConclusionZSQS alleviates skeletal muscle injury mainly by activating the AKT/Nrf2 signaling pathway, enhancing cellular antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capabilities. The results of this study provide a scientific basis for the clinical application and modernized development of ZSQS.

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

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to reexplore minimum iodine excretion and to build a dietary iodine recommendation for Chinese adults using the obligatory iodine loss hypothesis. METHODS: Data from 171 Chinese adults (19-21 years old) were collected and analyzed based on three balance studies in Shenzhen, Yinchuan, and Changzhi. The single exponential equation was accordingly used to simulate the trajectory of 24 h urinary iodine excretion as the low iodine experimental diets offered (iodine intake: 11-26 μg/day) and to further deduce the dietary reference intakes (DRIs) for iodine, including estimated average requirement (EAR) and recommended nutrient intake (RNI). RESULTS: The minimum iodine excretion was estimated as 57, 58, and 51 μg/day in three balance studies, respectively. Moreover, it was further suggested as 57, 58, and 51 μg/day for iodine EAR, and 80, 81, and 71 μg/day for iodine RNI or expressed as 1.42, 1.41, and 1.20 μg/(day·kg) of body weight. CONCLUSION The iodine DRIs for Chinese adults were established based on the obligatory iodine loss hypothesis, which provides scientific support for the amendment of nutrient requirements.
Humans ; Iodine/administration & dosage* ; Male ; Female ; China ; Young Adult ; Diet ; Adult ; Nutritional Requirements ; East Asian People

Objective:To investigate the patterns of mutation evolution in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) during treatment and the possible clinical significances.Methods:A retrospective case series study was conducted. A total of 103 AML patients who were hospitalized at the Affiliated Yuebei People's Hospital of Medical College of Shantou University from November 2019 to August 2021 and underwent high-throughput next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology to detect the mutations of 128 AML-related genes in bone marrow samples were selected. Based on the NGS results, the somatic gene mutations in samples of patients collected at initial diagnosis (73 cases), complete remission (CR) (30 cases), non-remission (NR) (23 cases), and recurrence (12 cases) were analyzed, and the targeted drugs involved in the gene mutations detected in NR and recurrence samples were summarized.Results:The median age [ M ( Q1, Q3)] of onset for 103 patients was 58 (48, 66) years, including 64 males (61%) and 39 females (39%); 86 cases (83%) were primary AML, and 17 cases (17%) were secondary AML; at the initial diagnosis, 51 cases (50%) had normal karyotypes, 34 cases (33%) had abnormalities, and 18 cases (17.5%) were unknown. Compared with the CR samples, the mutation frequencies of FLT3 [29% (21/73) vs. 3% (1/30)], NPM1 [27% (20/73) vs. 3% (1/30)], NRAS [22% (16/73) vs. 3% (1/30)], and IDH2 [14% (10/73) vs. 0 (0/30)] were all higher in the initial diagnosis samples, and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05); compared with the initial diagnosis sample, the median number of gene mutations in each CR sample was lower [4 (2, 5) vs. 7 (5, 9)], and the difference was statistically significant ( P < 0.001). However, there was no statistically significant difference in the median number of gene mutations in each patient between the initial diagnosis samples and the NR samples, the initial diagnosis samples and the recurrence samples, and the NR samples and the recurrence samples (all P > 0.05). Analysis of 14 patients with NGS data at initial diagnosis and CR showed that the same gene mutations could be detected at initial diagnosis and CR, such as DNAH23 (3 cases), USH2A (3 cases), etc; partial gene mutations were detected at initial diagnosis but were not detected at CR, including NRAS (5 cases), FLT3 (3 cases), ANKRD26 (3 cases), NPM1 (3 cases), ETV6 (3 cases), etc; ARID1B (1 case) and DNMT3A (1 case) were negative for mutations at initial diagnosis but positive upon reaching CR. Analysis of 14 patients with NGS data at initial diagnosis and NR showed that most gene mutations persisted at initial diagnosis and NR, such as DNMT3A (5 cases), NRAS (5 cases), KRAS (3 cases), RUNX1 (3 cases), etc; the mutant genes detected at initial diagnosis but not detected at NR included USH2A (2 cases), PCLO (2 cases), ATM (2 cases), FAT1 (2 cases), etc; partial gene mutations were not detected at initial diagnosis but were detected at NR, such as FAT1 (2 cases), TCF3 (2 cases), etc. Analysis of 5 patients with NGS data at CR and recurrence showed that some gene mutations were detected at both CR and recurrence, such as BCORL1 (1 case), ARID2 (1 case), SETD2 (1 case), VEGFC (1 case), etc; FLT1 (1 case) and GNAS (1 case) gene mutations were detected at CR but not detected at recurrence; at recurrence, some gene mutations that were not detected at CR were also detected, such as ANKRD26 (1 case), WT1 (1 case), etc. Among the 23 NR samples and 12 recurrence samples, the targets of drugs approved by US Food and Drug Administration or in clinical trials were detected in 14 (61%) and 5 (42%) samples respectively, including IDH1, IDH2, FLT3, KIT, KRAS, NRAS, SF3B1, U2AF1, and SRSF2. Conclusions:The number of gene mutations in AML patients during CR is significantly less than that at initial diagnosis, some gene mutations disappear when CR is achieved through treatment, but the majority of gene mutations persist during the treatment period, including NR and recurrence, suggesting that monitoring through NGS technology can help understand the evolution of gene mutations during AML treatment and discover the potential therapeutic targets.

Objective:To investigate the effects of brief mindfulness-based stress reduction(MBSR)on preoperative anxiety in pa-tients undergoing painless gastrointestinal endoscopy.Methods:We enrolled 100 patients scheduled to undergo elective painless gas-trointestinal endoscopy at The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from September 2024 to April 2025.The inclusion cri-teria were:age,18-60 years;body mass index,18.0-28.0 kg/m2;American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status,class Ⅰ orⅡ;and no gender restriction.The patients were assigned to experimental group(n=50)or control group(n=50)using a random num-ber table.A dedicated nursing team implemented the brief MBSR protocol.At 30 minutes before endoscopy,both groups underwent anxiety assessment using the Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale(APAIS).All the patients received routine preop-erative education.Guided by the nurses,the experimental group received the brief MBSR intervention consisting of mindful body scan-ning,mindful breathing,and mindful music listening,for 12 minutes each at 30 and 15 minutes before the procedure.We recorded the APAIS score,bispectral index(BIS),heart rate(HR),systolic blood pressure(SBP),diastolic blood pressure(DBP),and mean arterial pressure(MAP)at 30 minutes before the procedure(T0),after brief MBSR(T1),and immediately before anesthesia induction(T2);the length of stay in the post-anesthesia care unit(PACU)and postoperative adverse reactions;and the APAIS score and degree of sat-isfaction of patients at discharge from the PACU(T3).Results:Com-(all P<0.05).However,no significant differences were observed be-pared with the control group,the experimental group exhibited sig-nificantly lower APAIS scores,significantly reduced BIS values,and significantly lower HR values at T1 and T2 and a significantly lower APAIS score and a significantly higher degree of satisfaction at T3 tween the groups in SBP,DBP,MAP,postoperative adverse events,or PACU length of stay at any time point(all P>0.05).Conclusion:Brief MBSR is an effective non-pharmacological intervention to cope with perioperative negative emotions in patients undergoing pain-less gastrointestinal endoscopy,which can alleviate preoperative anxiety,reduce electroencephalographic arousal,and improve patient satisfaction.

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of Yangxin Tongmai Formula （养心通脉方） by midnight-noon ebb-flow administration method for rat models of premature coronary heart disease （PCHD） with blood stasis syndrome， and to explore the possible mechanism of action from the perspective of DNA methylation differential gene expression. MethodsThere were 3 SD rats in each of the blank group， model group and Yangxin Tongmai Formula group， and the rats in the model group and Yangxin Tongmai Formula group were fed with high-fat chow plus vitamin D3 by gavage plus isoproterenol hydrochloride by subcutaneous injection to construct rat models of PCHD with blood stasis syndrome. After successful modelling， rats in Yangxin Tongmai Formula group were gavaged with 18 g/（kg‧d） of Yangxin Tongmai Formula， and rats in blank group and the model group were gavaged with 4 ml/（kg‧d） of 0.9% NaCl solution， and serum samples of rats in each group were collected for DNA methylation sequencing after 3 weeks to screen for the relevant DNA methylation differentiation genes. In addition， rats with successful modelling of PCHD with blood stasis were randomly divided into model group， Yangxin Tongmai Formula with midnight-noon ebb-flow administration method group ［18 g/（kg‧d） of Yangxin Tongmai Formula was gavaged twice in the heart channel period （12：00） and pericardium channel period （20：00）］， the Yangxin Tongmai Formula control group ［18 g/（kg‧d） of Yangxin Tongmai Formula was gavaged twice at 8：00 and 18：00］ and the Atorvastatin Calcium group ［atorvastatin calcium tablets solution 1.8 mg/（kg‧d） at the same intervention time as that in Yangxin Tongmai Formula control group］， and set up a blank group of 8 rats in each group. The model group and blank group were gavaged with 0.9% NaCl solution 4 ml/（kg‧d） for the same time as the Yangxin Tongmai Formula control group. After 3 weeks of gavage， the blood lipids ［including total cholesterol （TC）， low-density lipoprotein （LDL）， high-density lipoprotein （HDL）］ levels of rats in each group were detected； the HE staining of myocardial tissues and thoracic aorta was used to observe the pathomorphological changes； the levels of serum inflammation indexes ［tumour necrosis factor alpha （TNF-alpha）， lipopolysaccharide （LPS）， and interleukin 10 （IL-10）］ were detected； immunoprecipitation-realtime fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to detect the relative expression of cardiac tissue screening differential genes. ResultsThe genes screened for differentially methylated regions were calmodulin 2 （Calm2）， calcium voltage-gated channel subunit α1s （Cacna1s）， and phospholipase Cβ1 （Plcb1）. Compared with the blank group， rats in the model group showed elevated levels of TC， LDL， TNF-α and LPS， and decreased levels of HDL and IL-10 （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）； HE staining showed obvious swelling of myocardial fibres， accompanied by a large number of inflammatory cell infiltration， and thickening of the inner wall of the aortic vessels with internal wall damage， which was visible as a large number of lipid cholesterol crystals and obvious inflammatory cell infiltration. Compared with the model group， the TC， LDL， TNF-α and LPS contents of rats in the Yangxin Tongmai Formula with midnight-noon ebb-flow administration method group， the Yangxin Tongmai Formula control group， and the atorvastatin calcium group all reduced， and the contents of HDL and IL-10 all elevated （P＜0.05）， with the improvement of myocardial tissue damage and the reduction of inflammatory infiltration， and the improvement of the damage of the inner lining of the thoracic aorta and the reduction of lipid infiltration. Compared with Yangxin Tongmai Formula control group， LDL， TNF-α and LPS contents reduced， and IL-10 contents increased in the midnight-noon ebb-flow administration method group （P＜0.05）. Compared with the model group， the relative expression of Calm2 and Plcb1 genes decreased and the relative expression of Cacna1s gene increased in Yangxin Tongmai Formula control group and the midnight-noon ebb-flow administration method group （P＜0.05）； compared with the Yangxin Tongmai Formula control group， the relative expression of Calm2 gene decreased and the relative expression of Cacna1s gene increased in the midnight-noon ebb-flow administration method group （P＜0.05）. ConclusionThe intervention of Yangxin Tongmai Formula in the heart channel period （12：00） and pericardium channel period （20：00） was more effective in improving the blood lipid level， inhibiting inflammation， and improving myocardial tissue damage in rats of PCHD with blood stasis syndrome， and Calm2 and Cacna1s genes may be the key targets of Yangxin Tongmai Formula in intervening the blood stasis syndrome of PCHD.

Objective:To investigate the effects of internet-based cognitive-behavioral therapy(iCBT)on kinesiophobla and rehabilitation outcomes in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty.Method:A total of 142 patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty were randomly divided into control group and experimental group.The control group received routine nursing intervention,while the experimental group received iCBT intervention in addition to routine car.General data questionnaire,Tampa Scale of Kinesiopho-bia,Self-Efficacy for Rehabilitation Outcome Scale and Hospital for Special Surgery knee score were assessed on postoperative day 2,day 14,at 1 month and 3 months.Result:Between the two groups,there were statistically significant differences in the kinesiophobia score,re-habilitation self-efficacy score and knee function score at the 3rd day,14th day,1 month and 3 months after operation in the experimental group(P＜0.05).Conclusion:iCBT intervention can alleviate the level of kinesiophobla,improve rehabilitation self-efficacy and promote the recovery of knee function in patients after total knee arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND:Cervical spondylosis is a chronic degenerative disease that has become one of the most common and frequent diseases threatening human health.At present,the initial diagnosis of the cervical spine and its surrounding structures mainly relies on the interpretation of medical images by radiologists,which not only requires a high level of technical requirements for operators,but also has the disadvantages of strong subjectivity,high labor intensity,and low efficiency.With the rapid development of artificial intelligence technology,its powerful data processing and image recognition capabilities have shown broad application prospects in the medical field.Deep learning has also made certain progress in the research of spinal diseases.OBJECTIVE:To summarize the current status and research progress in the application of artificial intelligence technology in cervical spine imaging images in recent years,evaluating the performance of artificial intelligence models as well as future trends and challenges to be overcome.METHODS:The first author searched the relevant articles in WanFang,CNKI,and PubMed in June 2024.The Chinese search terms were"artificial intelligence,deep learning,cervical spine."English serach terms were"artificial intelligence,Al,cervical vertebrae,cervical."Finally,101 articles were included and analyzed.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Artificial intelligence technology can realize automatic segmentation of cervical vertebrae and measurement of curvature change by segmentation,classification,landmarks recognition of medical image parts,detect cervical vertebral fracture,nerve root,and spinal cord type cervical spondylosis,identify cervical spine ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament,and predict post-surgery related risk factors and cervical vertebra maturation classification.(2)Although artificial intelligence technology has shown great potential in the field of cervical spine research,it is still in the early stages of exploration and rapid development,with unlimited room for development and innovation.

Objective To observe the value of preoperative magnetization transfer imaging(MTI)for predicting postoperative pancreatic fistula(POPF)after distal pancreatectomy(DP).Methods A total of 65 patients with pancreatic tumor who underwent DP and preoperative MR scanning were retrospectively enrolled and divided into clinically relevant POPF(CR-POPF)group(n=14,with grade B or C fistula),biochemical fistula group(n=31,postoperative drain fluid amylase level exceeding 3 times the upper limit of normal)and non-fistula group(n=20,postoperative drain fluid amylase level not exceeding 3 times the upper limit of normal)based on postoperative records.Clinical data and magnetization transfer ratio(MTR)of pancreatic tissue at the surgical margin were compared among 3 groups.The predictive value of MTR for CR-POPF was evaluated according to the area under the curve(AUC)of receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.Results Patients' age,intraoperative blood loss and the proportion of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma in both CR-POPF group and biochemical fistula group were lower than those in non-fistula group(all adjusted P＜0.05),while no significant difference was found between the former two groups(all adjusted P＞0.05).MTR of pancreatic tissue at the surgical margin in CR-POPF group was lower than that in both biochemical fistula group and non-fistula group(both P＜0.05),whereas no statistical difference was detected between the latter two groups(P＞0.05).The AUC of MTR for predicting CR-POPF after DP was 0.727.Conclusion Preoperative MTI could be used to predict POPF after DP.